Osprey - Sassanian elite cavalry

[Conal]

The picture on the from shows a projectile launcher shooting out a apout 7 arrows ...any idea what this is ?

[Johnny Shumate]

I'm wondering the same thing!
It looks like some kind of crossbow, don't know what type.
This should be a good title.
Johnny

[Robert Vermaat]

Now THAT's what I can a good McBride!

Only.. how come this one ain't yet published, while the Osprey Elite series already goes up to 130???

[Johnny Shumate]

Check this out:
It looks like legionaries wearing 2nd century and 4th century armour!?!?!?
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_d ... iew=spread

[Carlton Bach]

I guess that answers the question how long the segmentata stayed in use

and either that Osprey seems to have joined the ranks of the 'Everyone knows what Romans look like' pubblishers or they have some archeological evidence up their sleeves that I haven't heard of before. I wouldn't put either past them.

[Johnny Shumate]

Is that some type of Roman officer in the background on the white horse? Looks like he has dropped his sword(shot with an arrow?)?
Johnny

[L. Aufidius Pantera]

This seems a good platform to launch a stupid question for the uninitiated (aka me), but does anyone know when to use (or who uses) Sassanian and Sassanid?

It obviously seems that both are used but is one *more correct* than the other? Or is there a difference I am missing...?

Cheers for your help!

[Gregg]

I think the big blond German stereotype-looking guy is supposed to be Julian, getting his. No sign of the Saracen who nailed him though. Roman armor aside, the Persian cataphract impaling the unarmored Roman has his spear held across the neck of his horse, not held parallel against it's body, as per almost all existing art. He's likely to either go flying out of his saddle or at least lose his spear...

Gregg

[Sassanid]

Christoph

This seems a good platform to launch a stupid question for the uninitiated (aka me), but does anyone know when to use (or who uses) Sassanian and Sassanid?

It obviously seems that both are used but is one *more correct* than the other? Or is there a difference I am missing...?

I have always thought Sassanid was the singular term (perhaps incorrectly). Here is part of a sentence from "The Late Roman Army" by Pat Southern & Karen R Dixon.

"and James has claimed that the example from Dura, which apparently belonged to a Sassanid Persian, substantiates the belief that the late Roman ridge helmets were Partho-Sassanian in origin"

Hope that helps?

Andrew

[Johnny Shumate]

How did Julian get it? An arrow or lance?
Johnny

[L. Aufidius Pantera]

Andrew!

Many thanks for the info - though it appears I am slightly more confused now than before.. :wink:

in fact - there's not just a sassanid on this forum, but also a sassanian! Help!

[Sassanid]

They're everywhere, slipping through the limes when you are not looking. :lol: No seriously I use the name Sassanid because at the time of registering with RAT I was in the process of researching the Sassanian Dura helmet. The reconstruction is below.



Having checked my Osprey's "Parthians & Sassanid Persians" book, I too am confused. They seem to be all over the place with their Sassanids and Sassanians.

Simon James in his Dura book seems to use the term Sassanian. I have had a look for the term Sassanid, but so far have not found one.

Andrew

[Gregg]

Johnny -

It was a thrown spear. As I recall, an Arab auxiliary on the Sassanian side threw it. The idea that a Roman, possibly a Christian, killed Julian is a myth. In fact I remember reading that Roman troops quickly chased down and killed the guy who threw the spear…

Gregg

[Robert Vermaat]

The idea that a Roman, possibly a Christian, killed Julian is a myth. In fact I remember reading that Roman troops quickly chased down and killed the guy who threw the spear

Wouldn't they just. "hey, I saw it! He did it. It was that brown guy on that grassy knoll!"
Also known as the 'fall' guy..

[FlaviusCrispus]

I think the big blond German stereotype-looking guy is supposed to be Julian, getting his. No sign of the Saracen who nailed him though. Roman armor aside, the Persian cataphract impaling the unarmored Roman has his spear held across the neck of his horse, not held parallel against it's body, as per almost all existing art. He's likely to either go flying out of his saddle or at least lose his spear...

I really hope it's not supposed to be Julian "getting his," else my opinion of Angus McBride's research (or that of Dr. Farrokh, the author) will have sunk to new lows. Romans in lorica segmentatae and Neidermormter-type helmets in AD 363? Yikes, I think not.

It could also be Severus Alexander's Persian campaign, ca. AD 232, or Gordian III's, or even the defeat or capture of Valerian ca. AD 260. Then again, those shields and that guy in the foreground wearing the Intercisa-style helmet certainly look fourth century.... sheesh, this painting's a real missmosh of eras and equipment. I anxiously await the actual publication of the book to see the explanation.