04-20-2007, 08:40 AM
Quote:maurice talks about lead darts (this coming from english translation, since my greek is so bad) so would it then be ok for a 6th century impression to have and use these in you opinion? thanks for any opinions or input.
aitor iriarte:16ph4evr Wrote:Without doubt, John! 8)
He also says that they are worn inside aquiver. Maybe they were longer than the ones Vegetius said were carried inside the shield board... :?
Iohannis,
Besides Maurikios who's already mentioned by Aitor, I have two modern studies for you:
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 17 (Wien), pp. 173-84.
Völling, Thomas (1991): 'Plumbata - Mattiobarbulus - Martzobarboulon? Bemerkungen zu einem Waffenfund aus Olympia', in: Archäologischer Anzeiger, pp.: 287-98.
Völling describes a find from Olympia, Greece, so far the only plumbata from Greece that I know of. This is a longer one than normally found, the socketed shaft is 255 mm where the average length is between 100 and 130 mm. The point is not barbed (not unusual but uncommon), but the lead weight is attached halfway on the shaft (I know of only two others), but the weight is square (thát is unique).
Although there is no clear reason to see this find as a development from the ‘common’ plumbatae, this is what both Kolias and Völling think. Vólling dates this one to the 6th c., mostly based on theoretical work by Kolias. The latter was convinced that the plumbata developed into a much heavier and longer weapon, that eventually ended up as a mace. He thought that Maurikios describes this when mentioning that the ‘Martzobarboulon’ was carried in a leather case. He added an image of the ‘plumbata tribolata’ as described in the anonymous source ‘de rebus Bellicis’ as a plumbata combined with a caltrop.
However, Kolias’ reconstruction of this (so far unattested) invention from DRB is totally wrong and does not even bear the slightest resemblance to the known image from DRB – Kolias does not even show the barbed head.
Also, I’ve been told by experts (Philip Rance , pers. Comm..) that Kolias’ translation of Maurikios passage is wrong, and that the ‘Martzobarboulon’ carried in leather cases are clearly to be translated in the plural (hence my own attempt at a reconstruction of this leather case/quiver).
Therefore I reject Kolias’ reconstruction and development theory as wishful thinking.
There are two more plumbatae dated to the 5th and 6th (especially) centuries:
One is from Cebel’da, Cibilium, (Abchasia). However, this is published in an article that I’ve not been able to get hold of:
Kazanski, M. (1987): , in: C.Landes (ed.): Gaule Mérovingienne et Monde Méditerranéen. Actes des Ixe journées d’ Archéologie Mérovingienne, Lattes 24-24 sept. 1987, p. 75, 77 note 3, 80 fig. 1.1.
The other is from Ajdna nad Potoki, Slovenia, mentioned by Völling.
Unfortunately I don’t have images for either one. I’ll scan some pictures of the Olympia plumbata and Kolias’ reconstruction after weekend.
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)