11-12-2013, 01:08 AM
Quote:Yes Robert, griffins are quite a common decoration in officers' cuirasses it seems!
Griffins were the mythological animals attributed to Nemesis, goddess of revenge. Also gladiators' favourite deity.
But I have no other information about why they were so often depicted on loricae musculatae of Roman officers.
Griffins were popular mythological creatures in ancient times, with Romans, Greeks and Mesopotamian peoples etc.
Those cherubim should have human heads, like sphinxes, isn't that so?
Yes indeed they would have had human heads. I'm trying to find parallels for the shield, but none of such a late date.
Robert Mason D.Phil (Oxon)
World Cultures, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, 4 Bancroft Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C1, Canada.
E-mail: [email protected]
World Cultures, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, 4 Bancroft Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C1, Canada.
E-mail: [email protected]
