07-20-2008, 06:11 AM
Just a couple of minor points:
'cataphract' just means literally 'covered in' ,and fully decked and enclosed galleys are also called cataphract ( as opposed to 'aphract' = open)
The 'Contus/Kontos' was another 'nickname' given to the thicker two-handed spears/lances of Hellenistic times.Originally it meant something like 'bargepole' and for example a trireme carried several 'kontoi' to push/pole off a beach and to fend off other vessels.
I am not aware of any depictions of Kontoi longer than about 3.6-4m(12 ft- 14 ft )....anyrthing larger was just too unwieldy for cavalry in ranks.
Although it was no longer than the earlier Macedonian single handed 'xyston', being thicker ,heavier and stiffer, it required two-handed use, normally over the horses left shoulder, left hand forward, right hand back ( judging by depictions)
'Clibanarii' was another nickname , believed to derive from the Persian 'grive-pan' for oven ( though other derivations have been suggested.......
'cataphract' just means literally 'covered in' ,and fully decked and enclosed galleys are also called cataphract ( as opposed to 'aphract' = open)
The 'Contus/Kontos' was another 'nickname' given to the thicker two-handed spears/lances of Hellenistic times.Originally it meant something like 'bargepole' and for example a trireme carried several 'kontoi' to push/pole off a beach and to fend off other vessels.
I am not aware of any depictions of Kontoi longer than about 3.6-4m(12 ft- 14 ft )....anyrthing larger was just too unwieldy for cavalry in ranks.
Although it was no longer than the earlier Macedonian single handed 'xyston', being thicker ,heavier and stiffer, it required two-handed use, normally over the horses left shoulder, left hand forward, right hand back ( judging by depictions)
'Clibanarii' was another nickname , believed to derive from the Persian 'grive-pan' for oven ( though other derivations have been suggested.......
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
