11-26-2005, 03:53 PM
Khairete,
I thought the spear ends were dug into the ground, that is jammed against it. The shields had arm straps didn't they...so you simply slid your arm through and pushed the sarisse or whatever hard into the ground to withstand the shock of the advance troops whilst still having the protection of your sheild, you can move to a certain extent to protect higher or lower, whilst still holding the shaft of the sarisse by sliding your hand up and down.....that would also work for the cavalry using the xyston, who had to aim between the horses ears when charging...effectively they could raise their arms enough to shield from arrows or protect their left side, then draw their Falcatas or whatever when in close combat.
OK I have not practicised this, so it may not actually be that easy....!!!
The Sarmatians used the kontus two handed, but as cataphractii troops, both men, women - yes women, and horses being heavily protected with either horn scale armour on leather backing or hamata squamata...not dissimilar to the Persian/Sassanian clibanarii ...! regards
Arthes
I thought the spear ends were dug into the ground, that is jammed against it. The shields had arm straps didn't they...so you simply slid your arm through and pushed the sarisse or whatever hard into the ground to withstand the shock of the advance troops whilst still having the protection of your sheild, you can move to a certain extent to protect higher or lower, whilst still holding the shaft of the sarisse by sliding your hand up and down.....that would also work for the cavalry using the xyston, who had to aim between the horses ears when charging...effectively they could raise their arms enough to shield from arrows or protect their left side, then draw their Falcatas or whatever when in close combat.
OK I have not practicised this, so it may not actually be that easy....!!!
The Sarmatians used the kontus two handed, but as cataphractii troops, both men, women - yes women, and horses being heavily protected with either horn scale armour on leather backing or hamata squamata...not dissimilar to the Persian/Sassanian clibanarii ...! regards
Arthes
Cristina
The Hoplite Association
[url:n2diviuq]http://www.hoplites.org[/url]
The enemy is less likely to get wind of an advance of cavalry, if the orders for march were passed from mouth to mouth rather than announced by voice of herald, or public notice. Xenophon
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The Hoplite Association
[url:n2diviuq]http://www.hoplites.org[/url]
The enemy is less likely to get wind of an advance of cavalry, if the orders for march were passed from mouth to mouth rather than announced by voice of herald, or public notice. Xenophon
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