Macedonian Soldier Stele

[John Conyard]

I’ve just noticed this thread and it’s an interesting read. I fear I am going to appear like a “bull in china shop” so please forgive me. It’s been a hard day, I’ve had a drink, guests are due for dinner and the snow is piling up outside.

I think the issues around iconographic interpretation have being examined. Suffice to say I would trust some of the details on a typical grave stele as far as I could throw it. Sorry.

And while the length of the weapon is import ant so is the diameter of the shaft and the weight. So I own a lovely 9’ spear of 1” diameter with a small head which is a joy to use one handed. And a 6’ spear with 1.5” diameter and large head, which is more of challenge. Both can be used with dramatic effect two handed. Tapering the shaft makes a heavier weapon, great for penetration but hard to carry and use for any length of time. I’m getting used to them, but they are a different “ball game”. They do allow you to hold the weapon further towards the butt, but you can also hold a light weapon towards the rear of the shaft just because they are light.

Each rider has his own favourite weapon. When fighting other cavalry my choice is between a light 9’ training spear for distance, or preferably a heavy 6’ training spear which is good for parrying and heavy enough to land a good blow. Single handed spears can be very effective weapons. A few years ago a jousting group at the yard set up an armoured spring loaded target. It was made of high-density rubber covered in plate. They could hit it at great speed with a couched lance and it would never fall over. But using a spear over-arm you could get the tip of the weapon through the eyehole of the helmet, and use the momentum of the horse to force the target backwards and down to get the thing to fall over every time. The only downside was having to get off the horse to put the thing back up again.

I shun away from strict classifications of weapons although I appreciate their usefulness. I suspect the average cavalryman was constantly lightening his equipment by chopping off bits of shaft etc.

To my surprise lots of videos and photos show me carrying a 12’ -15” foot long weapon in one hand. As on many gravestones. But when hitting things you need two hands for precision and power. I suspect my weapons are not thick enough, and I often shatter 1” diameter ash shafts. The length of the weapon means they bend too much. A larger diameter shaft would be better, and perhaps be closer to a real kontos. But a long 12’ weapon of small or large diameter shaft means you need to use it two handed. And this is a weapon designed for close contact, so power is important.

Using the kontos two-handed means I can carry a small shield strapped on my left arm, but not in my left hand. You can carry large “Celtic” shields in your left hand and use a long light 9’spear. Remember the hand holds the shield handle, so you can only use the weapon one handed. Although you can throw the shield on to your back and use two hands. My aspis is a DSC version, 9.6kg or 22lb in weight, perceived as heavy by some. I could carry it to a battlefield on horseback, to be used on foot. It's the wrong shape and too heavy to use on horseback. I would not want to ride in anger carrying it. Ever. At all.