Macedonian Sarrisa

[Hypaspist]

After some Experimentation , and Thought .. yep I agree with Sekunda on a Smaller Point for the Sarrisa , a large Bladed head would not have much efficency , or give you the effective Amour piercing capability needed for a pike like weapon . I only have a few Old Art type catalogs , but one " The Search for Alexander " Exhibition Catalog ( Various Authors , Greek Ministry of Culture and Sciences , 1980 ) , does have a set of Points shown that seem to me to be quite what one would need for the Cavalry Version of the Sarrisa with " two points " both found in Tomb 2 Vergina , catalog #168(TAM # 143, lenght .333M , width at widest.028m) Sure fits what would be expected of the Butt , a heavy central Body, with short cutting edges and # 169 (TAM#146) Would match as a head , both stylisticly and size wise .# 169 a long thing point ,.553m long ,greatest width .033m, would work fairly well as a Sarrisa head .. Still I think a Smaller Point would work better , similar to a Late Medieval Pike / early Modern Age ( I will send Pictures as soon as I figure out how) .
As far as How much we can pull out of Art sources like the " Alexander Mural" from the "House of the Faun "In Pompiie, I think not much . 1st of all the heads are simply Stylized , If you look at other weapons in the Mural they have the Same head profile , Even of the Persians , and even the Head of Alexanders " Sarrisa" , has again the same shape . But also one of the Sarrisa , and a Spear point Buried into a Persian Horse ( the Black one in front of Alexander ) Have a very Round , Leaf shaped profile , or Shoulders. There seems only 2 styles of Spear heads portrayed , yes I believe , Not Factual , but Artistic . The Black lines on many of The background Sarrisa , could very well just be a Artist covention to portray a decorative raised band as on the , Thought Sarrisa Butts , as the one Published By M. Adronikos . Two Lines are also many times shown in Medival Art on Spear heads ,. But it is Intersting that the " Sarrisa heads "All have only One Nail or Rivit .. Ummm ?? the Heads also have a ratio of about 2:1 width to socket body . I do not know what all others have came up with , But about 1/12 inches in about what you want for a pike or " Sarrisa" You can wrap your hand around it Gives a much better Grip .So if this is the case that would project to about 3" across , a little too wide I would believe for the Blade?? That could be shaved down some buy a thinner shaft or tapering near the Point .
As far as the Butt ,, well it is really not so Bright to put butts on weapons just to prevent the cutting of their length . It would be much easier to mark with paint , Brand the end ( Again I will send Photos) it is what the Swiss did to their Pikes ! :wink: I mean You do not Put Butts for this reason n Pilum , or Dorys , Other Spears ?? And the Intersting thing about the Discounted Butt with the Four Flanges , is it would make the Sarrisa sit better in the Ground .. IF it was the purpose at all .. Maybe the four Flanges had to do with ease of Fabrication , too in some way , it keeps the same amount of metal and weight with all surfaces not getting too thick . ( Just a thought ) Also IF you held this Long Shaft down near the end , some weight back there would really help controlling the Point .
One more point .. Just because the Point of the spear, found attached to the wall in Tomb II Vergina did not have the Room for a WHOLE Sarrisa Shaft , does not mean in any way it is NOT FROM A SARRISA , this is a Lapse in Logic , there are examples of things being Cut or broken to fit in Tombs , and IF it was important enough to the Person or those involved with choosing material to be placed in the Tomb , it would make more sense to shorten the shaft then enlarge the Tomb
Any Other references or Ideas would be great . Does anyone have Lammert's work on Sarrias , Or M. Andronikos ?

Michael Pechacek Sr