03-14-2009, 04:46 PM
Hi Paul,
The original Greek of 'lead-pointed darts' is 'marztobarbulon', which seems an almost direct translation of 'martiobarbulus' (Little dart of Mars). See also Völling, Thomas (1991): Plumbata - Mattiobarbulus - ???????????????? Bemerkungen zu einem Waffenfund aus Olympia' in: Archäologischer Anzeiger, pp. 287-98 and Kolias, Taxiarchis G. (1988): Die Keule und der Streitkolben, in: Byzantinische Waffen. Ein Beitrag zur byzantinischen Waffenkunde, Von den Anfängen bis zur lateinischen Eroberung, Byzantina Vindobonensia, vol. 17 (Wien), pp. 173-84.
Völling agreed that the ???????????????/marztobarboulon is almost certainly the same as the 'martiobarbulus' mentioned by Vegetius (and hence we can conclude that 'mattiobarbulus' written in that source is probably an error for 'martiobarbulus'). But Völling also agreed with Kolias that the Strategikon mentioned that every soldier only carried one single dart in a quiver. Both assumed that this was an evolved, heavier form (Völling assumed that his find from Olympia confirmed this), because in the early 10th-c. Taktika of the emperor Leon the word ??????????????? describes a mace.
I've discussed these and other things over the past three years with dr. Philip Rance, who is still (I hope!) working on the latest edition of the Strategikon. He is of the opinion that ??????????????? indeed may be a synonym for a plumbata. He also disagrees with Dennis' translation of ??????????????? with the strained 'lead-pointed dart'. And lastly he disagrees with both Kolias and Völling about the translation of the quiver in which the 'heavy dart' was supposedly held, because the text never mentions any specifics. Apparently the text never mentions a single dart, nor a heavy one. To quote him:
Kolias seems to have thought of a mace in the first place, and tried to fit the text accordingly. His drawing on p. 175 shows something not like a plumbata but already more like a mace, with a spike-studded lead weight but without a point!
Quote: Separate question re the plumbata case/ bucket etc. Does anyone speak Greek and/ or have a Greek version of the Maurice Strategikon?
In B Infantry Formations, para 4 "Armament weapons of the light-armed infantryman" he writes in the English version "They should also carry lead-pointed darts in leather cases or slings". Does anyone know what words he used in the original and what they might mean?
And, btw, he also recommends that darts be used by heavy infantry, by waggon drivers etc etc!
The original Greek of 'lead-pointed darts' is 'marztobarbulon', which seems an almost direct translation of 'martiobarbulus' (Little dart of Mars). See also Völling, Thomas (1991): Plumbata - Mattiobarbulus - ???????????????? Bemerkungen zu einem Waffenfund aus Olympia' in: Archäologischer Anzeiger, pp. 287-98 and Kolias, Taxiarchis G. (1988): Die Keule und der Streitkolben, in: Byzantinische Waffen. Ein Beitrag zur byzantinischen Waffenkunde, Von den Anfängen bis zur lateinischen Eroberung, Byzantina Vindobonensia, vol. 17 (Wien), pp. 173-84.
Völling agreed that the ???????????????/marztobarboulon is almost certainly the same as the 'martiobarbulus' mentioned by Vegetius (and hence we can conclude that 'mattiobarbulus' written in that source is probably an error for 'martiobarbulus'). But Völling also agreed with Kolias that the Strategikon mentioned that every soldier only carried one single dart in a quiver. Both assumed that this was an evolved, heavier form (Völling assumed that his find from Olympia confirmed this), because in the early 10th-c. Taktika of the emperor Leon the word ??????????????? describes a mace.
I've discussed these and other things over the past three years with dr. Philip Rance, who is still (I hope!) working on the latest edition of the Strategikon. He is of the opinion that ??????????????? indeed may be a synonym for a plumbata. He also disagrees with Dennis' translation of ??????????????? with the strained 'lead-pointed dart'. And lastly he disagrees with both Kolias and Völling about the translation of the quiver in which the 'heavy dart' was supposedly held, because the text never mentions any specifics. Apparently the text never mentions a single dart, nor a heavy one. To quote him:
Quote: It is not possible to be certain whether Maurice requires heavy infantry (skoutatoi) to have one or more martiobarbuli, because all the equipment in the inventory at 12.B.4 is in the plural, whether each soldier had one of that item or several. I have assumed, on the basis of earlier precedent and intrinsic likelihood, that each man has more than one. The language of 12.B.20 also implies that each man has several. Maurice says nothing about their cases. The issue is slightly confused at 12.B.6 where the text reads that each contubernium should have a cart containing, among other tools and equipment, "a martiobarboulon" (in the singular), though I think this must be an error and should be in the plural - whether we think that this was a dart or a mace there seems no reason why a contubernium of 8 men should be issued with just one! I have assumed that these are extra martiobarbuli, in addition to those included in each man's equipment at 12.B.4. Although Maurice specifies that martiobarbuli should be part of the equipment of heavy infantry (12.B.4) and that they should be trained to use them (12.B.2), he also envisages their use by light infantry (12.B.12) and even wagon-drivers in the baggage-train (12.B.18).
Kolias seems to have thought of a mace in the first place, and tried to fit the text accordingly. His drawing on p. 175 shows something not like a plumbata but already more like a mace, with a spike-studded lead weight but without a point!
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)