08-09-2011, 12:29 PM
First: what are your sources? Ammianus Marcellinus? Or Littleton & Malcor?
The British Museum has a ring-pommeled sword dated to Commodus, along with coins. It's probably Iaz and it's short. Also see Janos Harmatta, a good authority on Sarmatian cultures on the Hungarian Plain. He notes the differing burial styles, Iaz and Roxolani, and the equally different sword lengths. Timewise, I think the last quarter of the 2nd century saw the beginning of the Iaz-Roxolani mergance. Thereafter, both tribes were recorded as "Sarmatians."
Tacitus describes the Roxolani (an Alanic subtribe) as being cataphracts. But I don't think the Iazages were described in original sources as such. Recent authors oft "interpret" what they want to see or promote, but more than a few are not familiar with weapon styles. The long lance and long sword was Alanic, an extension of the Massagetae lance and Han Dynasty sword.
The British Museum has a ring-pommeled sword dated to Commodus, along with coins. It's probably Iaz and it's short. Also see Janos Harmatta, a good authority on Sarmatian cultures on the Hungarian Plain. He notes the differing burial styles, Iaz and Roxolani, and the equally different sword lengths. Timewise, I think the last quarter of the 2nd century saw the beginning of the Iaz-Roxolani mergance. Thereafter, both tribes were recorded as "Sarmatians."
Tacitus describes the Roxolani (an Alanic subtribe) as being cataphracts. But I don't think the Iazages were described in original sources as such. Recent authors oft "interpret" what they want to see or promote, but more than a few are not familiar with weapon styles. The long lance and long sword was Alanic, an extension of the Massagetae lance and Han Dynasty sword.
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb