Sassanian Bazpan

[Ironhand]

I'm looking for info on this piece of armour, but I'm not finding much. I've seen reference to an archaeological find, but no dice beyond that.

[kuura]

Armoured gloves/gauntlets. I think some were found at Dura, laminated/articulated affairs, looking somewhat similar to later Medieval gauntlets from Wisby.

[Ironhand]

That gives a bit of credence to Angus's picture of them. I was a bit hesitant to go by the picture since it showed Romans in gear about a hundred years past its date and seemed riddled with inaccuracies. So the basic form might be somewhat correct, but still doesn't give me a lot to go by for a reproduction.

[Gregg]

I don't think anything as sophisticated as an iron gauntlet was ever found at Dura Europas. The bazpan armored gauntlet was supposedly inherited by the Sassanians from the Parthians, though I'm not sure if it was actually an armored gauntlet or merely an armored plate that protected the back of the hand. Still, an articulated iron gauntlet, very sophisticated by any standards, was found near Amlash in what is today Iran, near the south shore of the Caspian Sea. The gauntlet has been dated roughly to the 6th-7th century, which would make it either late Sassanian or early Ummayad.

Gregg

[Ironhand]

Very interesting. I'll have to look it up. I'm surprised that there isn't more interest as gauntlets are mentioned a few times in Eastern Roman sources and a Sassanian find would be a good lead as far as the nature of it. Especially considering how much 6-7th c Eastern Roman equipment was adapted from the Sassanians and vice versa. So far my only lead aside from your info has been a half assed portrait by Angus McBride that is riddled with inaccuracies and little info aside from that there was a find in Armenia.

[Ironhand]

By the way thanks Gregg. Forgot my manners for a second there. A laudes to you.

[Gregg]

Hey, no problem. Actually you can see a rather simple drawing of the gauntlet in Nicolle's Men-at-Arms book, Armies of the Muslim Conquest. And Kuura is right, it's in some ways almost remarkably similar to some of the Wisby guntlets. For copyright reasons I obviously can't post it here, but if you send me your email address I'll send you a scan.

Gregg

[kuura]

Hey, no problem. Actually you can see a rather simple drawing of the gauntlet in Nicolle's Men-at-Arms book, Armies of the Muslim Conquest. And Kuura is right, it's in some ways almost remarkably similar to some of the Wisby guntlets. For copyright reasons I obviously can't post it here, but if you send me your email address I'll send you a scan.

Gregg

There is a good line drawing in the Dixon/Stephenson cavalry book (a mate just informed me) Hopefully I should get a pdf of this gauntlet through myself pretty soon and will let you know when it arrives.

[jho]

Is this what you are looking for?

gauntlet

[kuura]

I do believe it is Jens, many thanks and Laudes to you

[Gregg]

That's the one. Good to finally see a photo of it, it's even more impressive than the drawing suggests.

Gregg

[Ironhand]

Thanks, I was about to shoot Gregg a PM, but problem solved.

[Sean Manning]

That is very impressive! Its interesting that the later medieval bazuband was a completely different design, a mail glove attached to a plate vambrace. What evidence do we have that the medieval Greek empire used them?

[Salvianus]

Is this what you are looking for?

gauntlet

I'm late to the thread, I fear (well I am a Late Roman)

I believe the forum link posted by jho has been superseded. I assume this is the replacement:

Iranian gauntlet, C6th-7th

bene valete

[kuura]

I'm late to the thread, I fear (well I am a Late Roman)

But not as late as us mate :wink: