09-13-2005, 04:45 PM
Well, I finally got mine (d***n amazon.de, I had it on order and had to buy it at the shop in the end). I have to admit the armour on the Ravenna Patrikios' officer had me do a double-take. Would something like this have any practical utility?
@Conal, I think the papal guard at the time was less than official (the popes weren't supposed to have armed followers and more than the Patriarchs of Alexandria, but they needed them, so...), and certainly not as well funded as the imperial guards. The current Vatican is very wealthy, but that wasn't always the case.
Another thing that had me wondering was B3, the flammoularios - how does that armour work? Is it iron? The upper arm guards, too? Is there evidence about the surface treatment? It looks strange to me to go through the trouble of making an iron muscle cuirass and them not doing anything with it. It looks positively utilitarian.
The shields of the 6th century guards also look interesting. Is there evidence for the sculpted metal look depicted? The gemstones? I know they were painted like that, but so were a lot of other things. Do we have finds or surviving items?
I'm greatly impressed by the clothing and decor, and expecially the 'riding coats', and I would have loved to read more about cloth weave, weight, and sewing techniques. And yes, I want a suit like the Hun has.
@Conal, I think the papal guard at the time was less than official (the popes weren't supposed to have armed followers and more than the Patriarchs of Alexandria, but they needed them, so...), and certainly not as well funded as the imperial guards. The current Vatican is very wealthy, but that wasn't always the case.
Another thing that had me wondering was B3, the flammoularios - how does that armour work? Is it iron? The upper arm guards, too? Is there evidence about the surface treatment? It looks strange to me to go through the trouble of making an iron muscle cuirass and them not doing anything with it. It looks positively utilitarian.
The shields of the 6th century guards also look interesting. Is there evidence for the sculpted metal look depicted? The gemstones? I know they were painted like that, but so were a lot of other things. Do we have finds or surviving items?
I'm greatly impressed by the clothing and decor, and expecially the 'riding coats', and I would have loved to read more about cloth weave, weight, and sewing techniques. And yes, I want a suit like the Hun has.
Der Kessel ist voll Bärks!
Volker Bach
Volker Bach
