01-30-2008, 09:25 AM
Robert wrote:-
Certainly the Latin 'contus' meant the thick, two-handed cavalry lance as used by Sarmatian heavy cavalry.
Peter wrote:-
...If that measurement is correct, the 'kontos/pike/sarissa' would protrude
some 15 ft (4.5 m) in front! If we add say, 6 ft (1.8 m) behind, that would make a weapon 21 ft (6.3 m) long in total - longer than the longest sarissa, which must mean a two handed Macedonian phalanx type weapon! One suspects some corruption of text here, especially if the weapon was meant to be used single-handed.
Quote:I guess that means that when a writer uses 'kontos' or 'contus' they are more likely to have a longer thrusting spear in mind, and not a throwing spear, no matter the length they're thinking of.Stefanos wrote:-
Quote:"Kontos" or "Kontarion" literlly means wooden shaft......I wouldn't be so quick to jump to that conclusion, Robert. It is beginning to sound to me that 'kontos', like 'hasta', is a generic word for 'shafted weapon', that could take on a specific meaning at different times and places. In it's "bit of iron on the end of a stick" guise it would cover the lexicon meaning of 'boathook' - or 'pila', which seems to be how Arrian uses it.
Some Byzantione writers refer to point, spikes and blades on a pole (shaft) as kontaria.
Certainly the Latin 'contus' meant the thick, two-handed cavalry lance as used by Sarmatian heavy cavalry.
Peter wrote:-
Quote:However he puts this proposition, namely that the kontaria of the hoplitai would bristle 30 spans to the fore of the taxiarchy
...If that measurement is correct, the 'kontos/pike/sarissa' would protrude
some 15 ft (4.5 m) in front! If we add say, 6 ft (1.8 m) behind, that would make a weapon 21 ft (6.3 m) long in total - longer than the longest sarissa, which must mean a two handed Macedonian phalanx type weapon! One suspects some corruption of text here, especially if the weapon was meant to be used single-handed.
"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