08-13-2011, 09:20 AM
Hailog, George
From what we can tell, principally those weapons and modes of armor adopted by the Roman army, the greater influence came from the Alans. I personally do not refer to them as Sarmatians, although they could be called Eastern Sarmatians. The number of tribes and subtribes of this culture included the Wusun (Chinese for "Alan"), Aorsi, Roxolani, and the Taifali. This culture arose as the northeast Saka-Massagetae, from the Altai and moving down to the Pamirs, Ili Valley, and Issyk Kul. The Iaz, on the other hand, were related to the Sauromati which descended from the western Scythians which accounts for the short sword and lack of heavy armor.
An interesting sidelight: the style of armor and sword used by the Alans/Wusun was replicated fairly well in John Woo's film, Red Cliff. The helmets and body armor are almost identical to that found on the Orlat Battle Plaque.
The name and purpose of this thread (Show Your Sarmatian Impression) is to encourage an active display of Sarmatian-Alanic gear and weapons. No kit is entirely correct, as John Conyard has pointed out. The hardest item to find is the style of helmet found on Trajan's Column and the Arch of Galarius. Spangenhelms made today in India are of the Norman type, a long way from the steppes in design. Armorers like Gzregorz Kulig can make a copy of the originals but the price is STEEP! :roll:
Whenever possible, use original sources: Ammianus Marcellinus, Herodotus, and Arrian among the best. Authors like Littleton & Malcor had an agenda, and a not very accurate one. Archaeological work by Harmatta and Treister comes in handy. There is link on the internet to an archaeological book written by several Russians and edited by Jennine Davis-Kimbal. We see, for instance, the "trail" of the Chinese longsword, early enough that bronze examples have been found in Sarmatian Two graves. This trail fascinates me, since a number of Alanic influences found their way to Gaul and Britain, including the ceremony of using round-bottomed cups with bear-shaped handles, forerunners of the Grail.
Good luck on your impression. :-)
From what we can tell, principally those weapons and modes of armor adopted by the Roman army, the greater influence came from the Alans. I personally do not refer to them as Sarmatians, although they could be called Eastern Sarmatians. The number of tribes and subtribes of this culture included the Wusun (Chinese for "Alan"), Aorsi, Roxolani, and the Taifali. This culture arose as the northeast Saka-Massagetae, from the Altai and moving down to the Pamirs, Ili Valley, and Issyk Kul. The Iaz, on the other hand, were related to the Sauromati which descended from the western Scythians which accounts for the short sword and lack of heavy armor.
An interesting sidelight: the style of armor and sword used by the Alans/Wusun was replicated fairly well in John Woo's film, Red Cliff. The helmets and body armor are almost identical to that found on the Orlat Battle Plaque.
The name and purpose of this thread (Show Your Sarmatian Impression) is to encourage an active display of Sarmatian-Alanic gear and weapons. No kit is entirely correct, as John Conyard has pointed out. The hardest item to find is the style of helmet found on Trajan's Column and the Arch of Galarius. Spangenhelms made today in India are of the Norman type, a long way from the steppes in design. Armorers like Gzregorz Kulig can make a copy of the originals but the price is STEEP! :roll:
Whenever possible, use original sources: Ammianus Marcellinus, Herodotus, and Arrian among the best. Authors like Littleton & Malcor had an agenda, and a not very accurate one. Archaeological work by Harmatta and Treister comes in handy. There is link on the internet to an archaeological book written by several Russians and edited by Jennine Davis-Kimbal. We see, for instance, the "trail" of the Chinese longsword, early enough that bronze examples have been found in Sarmatian Two graves. This trail fascinates me, since a number of Alanic influences found their way to Gaul and Britain, including the ceremony of using round-bottomed cups with bear-shaped handles, forerunners of the Grail.
Good luck on your impression. :-)
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
