01-02-2008, 11:38 PM
Egfroth/Steven wrote:-
( a large throwing weapon classically goes with a large shield - see Roman legionaries, Spanish Scutarii etc)
..or is he postulating a short heavy thrusting spear? ( see below for why a long cornel-wood pike/spear is unlikely) in which case it sounds similar to Arrian's 'Order of battle against the Alans' - where pila were used in hand to fend off armoured cataphracts - in that case, we could well be back to a throwing weapon, with a one-off use against cataphracts! :? ( see Arrian)
The one thing that troubles me is the material - as I pointed out earlier, spears were generally lighter wood, and throwing weapons heavier. So if it was made of cornel-wood, the chances are that it was a throwing weapon
( sarissas were once thought to be cornel, but reconstructions showed them to be too heavy to be practical)
Quote:And I find Tim has the same opinion as to its use. He outlines the evidence which leads him to the conclusion that it was a heavy thrusting spear to be used against charging kataphraktoi in conjunction with the longer, lighter kontaria of the regular troops. And shows photos of the array he believes to have been used, and why. VERY interesting (but not stupid!)...as we have seen, such an interpretation is possible. would this then be a sarissa type pike, used two-handed - which necessitates a small shield like the pelte?
( a large throwing weapon classically goes with a large shield - see Roman legionaries, Spanish Scutarii etc)
..or is he postulating a short heavy thrusting spear? ( see below for why a long cornel-wood pike/spear is unlikely) in which case it sounds similar to Arrian's 'Order of battle against the Alans' - where pila were used in hand to fend off armoured cataphracts - in that case, we could well be back to a throwing weapon, with a one-off use against cataphracts! :? ( see Arrian)
The one thing that troubles me is the material - as I pointed out earlier, spears were generally lighter wood, and throwing weapons heavier. So if it was made of cornel-wood, the chances are that it was a throwing weapon
( sarissas were once thought to be cornel, but reconstructions showed them to be too heavy to be practical)
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff