09-17-2014, 11:33 PM
Interesting, but a gladiatrix never went into battle. It would appear the women soldiers/warriors came from "barbarian" ranks, a few recorded Celts, and a slew of archaeologically confirmed Massagetae, Scythians, Saka, Sarmats, Sarmatians, and Alans. Unlike women in Roman society, they held equal status within their respective tribes.
Most were archers, but at least one woman (supposedly a Sarmatian) was buried with all the hallmarks of cataphract. The catacomb grave was found at Akermen on the Molochna, "a young woman, equipped with a bronze mirror, a necklace of glass beads, silver, bronze and glass bracelets, a few wooden vessels and a Greek amphora. Beside her were two iron spear-heads and two lance-heads, a quiver with twenty arrows, and a suit of scale armor." (Sulimirski, Praeger, N.Y., 1970, pp 105-06) Evidently, she meant serious business.
mile:
Most were archers, but at least one woman (supposedly a Sarmatian) was buried with all the hallmarks of cataphract. The catacomb grave was found at Akermen on the Molochna, "a young woman, equipped with a bronze mirror, a necklace of glass beads, silver, bronze and glass bracelets, a few wooden vessels and a Greek amphora. Beside her were two iron spear-heads and two lance-heads, a quiver with twenty arrows, and a suit of scale armor." (Sulimirski, Praeger, N.Y., 1970, pp 105-06) Evidently, she meant serious business.
mile:
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
