08-13-2011, 04:32 AM
Quote: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.
Alanus,
You are quite correct. I had time to go over what I had read earlier and I misinterpreted the article. :oops: