07-19-2007, 04:40 PM
Yes, but it's all speculation. That's why I'd like to find out the original words used, and see how accurately we can get the meaning of term. Translations by people unfamiliar with the subject of military equipment can be very misleading.
One thing we do know, though, is that the "visor" could be raised or lowered, which probably cuts out the face mask and the Siculo-Norman types.
By the helmets associated with the klibanophoroi, I take it you mean a mail curtain that covers the face? As I understand it, the association with this type of face protection with klibanophoroi comes from a colour plate in the Osprey Byzantine Armies book, not from any contemporary source. The only Byzantine source for this I know of is in the "Greek Romance of Alexander", whch is 14th century, two to three centuries after Alexios. There are Islamic pictures of similar mail curtains, but as far as I know, nothing else from the Empire.
I still think something of the sort is the most likely possibility, but the evidence is very thin.
One thing we do know, though, is that the "visor" could be raised or lowered, which probably cuts out the face mask and the Siculo-Norman types.
By the helmets associated with the klibanophoroi, I take it you mean a mail curtain that covers the face? As I understand it, the association with this type of face protection with klibanophoroi comes from a colour plate in the Osprey Byzantine Armies book, not from any contemporary source. The only Byzantine source for this I know of is in the "Greek Romance of Alexander", whch is 14th century, two to three centuries after Alexios. There are Islamic pictures of similar mail curtains, but as far as I know, nothing else from the Empire.
I still think something of the sort is the most likely possibility, but the evidence is very thin.
"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