01-24-2009, 09:48 AM
Orlirva wrote
My major problem with this is that AFAIK menavlia are first mentioned in a 10th century treatise, but the representation this reconstruction is based upon dates to the 6th century. Just seems like too much of a stretch to me. There's no indication as far as I can see, in the original description, that would suggest an edge of this sort on a menavlion.
Also, I would take issue with the idea of the menavlion being a relatively short pole-arm on the lines of a glaive or halberd. The length of the shaft is specified in Nikephoros Ouranos' Taktika as 1.5 to 2 orguiai ("fathoms"). This has been interpreted [Schilbach] as being equivalent to 2.8-3.7 metres (9'2"-12'2") or even 3.2-4.2 metres (10'6"-13'9"). gis would make it far too long and unwieldy to use in this manner.
Tim Dawson's treatise "Fit for the Task" in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (Vol 31 No. 1 of 2007), using an interpretation that considerably reduces the length of an orguia from Schilbach's, proposes 2.3-3.1 metres (7'6"-10'2"). But even with this reduced length, it's hard to see it being possible to use it like a halberd or glaive.
Quote:http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/Byz/MenavCandidate.JPG is the model
My major problem with this is that AFAIK menavlia are first mentioned in a 10th century treatise, but the representation this reconstruction is based upon dates to the 6th century. Just seems like too much of a stretch to me. There's no indication as far as I can see, in the original description, that would suggest an edge of this sort on a menavlion.
Also, I would take issue with the idea of the menavlion being a relatively short pole-arm on the lines of a glaive or halberd. The length of the shaft is specified in Nikephoros Ouranos' Taktika as 1.5 to 2 orguiai ("fathoms"). This has been interpreted [Schilbach] as being equivalent to 2.8-3.7 metres (9'2"-12'2") or even 3.2-4.2 metres (10'6"-13'9"). gis would make it far too long and unwieldy to use in this manner.
Tim Dawson's treatise "Fit for the Task" in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (Vol 31 No. 1 of 2007), using an interpretation that considerably reduces the length of an orguia from Schilbach's, proposes 2.3-3.1 metres (7'6"-10'2"). But even with this reduced length, it's hard to see it being possible to use it like a halberd or glaive.
"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