05-15-2007, 10:42 PM
Here's some more 6th century armour. First, two from a silver plate c. 550 AD showing Venus in the Tent of Anchises. Both figures are wearing what looks very like mail if you look at it closely, with pteruges at the shoulders. The helmet in the second one is interesting, too. Both have a sort of harness over the armour which first appears in Sassanid Persian representations, and is seen in Byzantine representations of armoured men for centuries afterwards. Its function is still a mystery - it's been whimsically titled the Varangian bra, though (apart from some Osprey illustrations) there's absolutely no reason to connect it with the Varangians.
and another silver plate from about the same time, showing David fighting Philistines. I've read scholarly opinion that the helmets, at least, are fanciful, based upon clasical models. But the armour itself seems very similar to the Venus and Anchises guys.
and another silver plate from about the same time, showing David fighting Philistines. I've read scholarly opinion that the helmets, at least, are fanciful, based upon clasical models. But the armour itself seems very similar to the Venus and Anchises guys.
"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