05-15-2007, 05:45 AM
Quote:So, it appears to be a more simple type of spangenhelm.
Not really. The complex curves actually make it quite a bit more difficult to make. The frame of a spangenhelm gives you much more certainty of the shapes you need. Just fill in the gaps . . .
Quote:I wonder if the knob serves any purpose (e.g. the attachment of a horse hair tail).It's possible, but I doubt it. The knob seems to be a decoration in its own right. Horsehair tails seem to have gone out of fashion by the 12th century.
Quote:Armoured skirt, hmm...I can't recall seeing an example of one.
This is probably the clearest representation, and the one I plan to copy. It's an 11th century steatite ikon of St George in the Vatopedi monastery, Greece
Quote: Also, would a two-handed battle-axe be incongrous with your kit since you carry a kite shield ?
Not really. You just sling it over your back, like the guy on the far right in the lowest panel here. Also, see the guys with both axes and shields here.
Quote:According to Dan Peterson the Deepeeka plates measure about 4 inches (10 cm) in length. So, I would have 4 or 5 rows of plates since I'm not tall. Two rows are visible on the Christ mosaic but he must have at least three and just maybe even four, IMO.
I'd say so. early Byzantine period (ie 5th-6th century AD) representations of lamellar show the plates quite long compared with their width - and with curved edges. Four inches would probably be ok - perhaps they're just a bit wide, instead. A bit hard to get a sense of scale from Deepeeka's pictures.
Quote:I'd be most interested in seeing whatever you have from the period .
Well, we could start with the following:
A c. 6th century Byzantine or Lombard silver plate in Castelvecchio Museum in Verona.
And here's a detail from a gilded bronze plate from the brow of the helmet of 6th century Lombard king Agilulf. The detail is not good, but if you look carefully, you can see the outline of lamellar plates on the torsos of the soldiers, and of course their plumed spangenhelms.
Their lamellar plates seem to be curved, as well. However, the ones I photographed in the Crypta Balbi museum were rectangular.
If you wanted to have curved edges on your plates, somebody makes plates copied from those found at Birka (or was it Wisby?) which would fit the bill.
BTW, if you're interested in 6th century spangenhelms, I have links to lots of sites with photos - though yours seems very much typical of the best of them.
"It is safer and more advantageous to overcome the enemy by planning and generalship than by sheer force"
The Strategikon of Emperor Maurice
Steven Lowe
Australia
The Strategikon of Emperor Maurice
Steven Lowe
Australia