Imaging Battles: Medieval

wtorek, 5 maja 2015

Before the battle of al-Qadisiyyah 636

The plate is showing late Sasanian commander-in-chief with two high ranking officers. The main personage is sitting on the throne placed on top of the elephant as was described in the sources of the battle of Qadissiyah. He is armored with three layers of armor – the habit described in the same sources. It is not certain whether description regarded layers of chain-mail or different types of protective materials. Also old-Turkic archaeological material (Late Sasanian era was showing extensive exchange between Persian and Turkic worlds) attests Both options seem plausible however combination of various modes of protection is attested since early Sasanian period. The personage wears apezak (chest harness), korymboi (silk balls on the shoulders) and decorative ribbons. The former two might be the part of royal insignia but given the comparable equipment in India and Byzantine Empire it seems that they were the designation of command rank rather than exclusively royal kit. The ribbons were the mark of high status, sometimes given by the kings to their warriors excelled in bravery and other merit. The personage has the archery equipment and sword of old type. As someone not expected to participate in combat he was likely to have the equipment used successfully by his ancestors.
The gear of two horsemen is based on the late Sasanian iconography and shows strong Turkic influence clearly visible in the P-shaped sheaths suspensions and hour-glass quivers. The horse armor of the warriors follows the patterns represented on the spahbedan seals supplemented by the Turkic designs reconstructed by Gorburnov. The armor of the rider on the right is an attempt to reconstruct personal protective equipment from the spahbedan seals, the rider on the left wears the gear from famous Taq e Bostan frieze. Green ribbons of the rider on the left are the mark Mihran clan and designate the leader of Mihran contingent while the red ribbons of the warrior on the rider on the right associate with artesharan class color and may designate arteshtaransalar i.e. the leader of the warriors being high officer rank which by the late Sasanian time had either been extinct or had purely honorific meaning.

first publication: Desperta Ferro n 24

wtorek, 4 listopada 2014

After the battle of Carrhae. 53 BC

cover Breaking War N 12

Surena at Carrhae. Suren family were the grandees of the Sakastan, most probably of Saka origin. The equipmnent shown on the picture comes from the Eastern part of empire and includes the kit from Indo-Saka material. Suren wears the red kaftan reserved for the warrior class decorated with numerous golden appliques and a golden belt. He is wearing white diadem which is a royal symbol but he is the chieftain of the Saka. Also his klevets/najak marks his commanding status. To his thighs he has attached the daggers furnished with gold. He is riding on the saddle with bows instead of the horned variety. These saddles developed in the East from the soft saddles.The cataphract is based on the Indo-Saka coins.

He wears long suit of armor made of square and rectangular bronze plates, the helmet being a variation of so-called "Kuban" type and laminated arm protection. His horse is barded as per Khalczayan friezes.Horse archer kneeling in from of surena wears simple kaftan and trousers. One might expect red clothes for poorer warriors as well however Old Nisa frescoes clearly proves that white was in military use as well even thogh it was a priestly color. Naturally one cannot exclude that Old Nisa depicts some mythical or spiritual warafre however horsemen there are shown in white caftans.He has a "hunnic" bow which allowed farther reach and bgger impact. Additionally he has a long sword, idea brought from the East and a dagger in the bow/arrow case.

sources