Late Sarmatian or early Alan costume

[Alanus]

Exactly.

Those influences would come from east and west, the Huns-Hepthalites and the East Germans. I think, if I remember correctly, there are some good illustrations in the Ospray books, "Germanic Warrior" and something like "Archers of the Steppes."

The article that originally came to mind was "Late Sogdian Costume" by Sergey A. Yatsenko, www.transoxiana.org . He illustrates costume from the 1st to 3rd centuries, mid Alanic influence on the Sogdians and verse vica, and then 5th to 8th centuries with the Hepthalite-Hunnic influence. Note that Procopius called the Hepthalites "Huns" in some sections and "Massagetae" in other sections of his histories.

But we can imagine a heavy Germanic clothing influence upon the Alans attached to both the Goths and Vandals. Nonetheless, some things perhaps never changed, as can be seen in Robert's illustration-- tight trousers and the horse's tamga that goes back at least half a millennium or more.

P.S. I clicked to that link Robert gave, and the caption to the illustration noted that the guy was wearing "sandals." As we all know, most horsemen-- just about everywhere-- wore sandals, especally in the American west and Tunisia, where feet get overly heated from the 130 degree heat. Or just possibly the illustration really shows a pair of boots secured by two wide wrap-around laces. Your vote:

(a) Alanic and Vandal horsemen wore sandals.
(b) Only John Wayne wore sandals when playing Gengis Khan.
© Saint Peter wore sandals only during the eucharist.
(d) Horsemen wore boots, even the Romans who normally walked in sandals.


Best Regards, and tight sandals,
Alanus
A.J. bow-twanger