06-13-2009, 04:39 PM
First of all thanks for those photos! How you were able to take those? There seem to be at least 1 museum worker per case 
and light is rather poor.
Now few points:
Tomb 3 in Vergina is suggested to be tomb of Alexander IV, child king. This may explain that sauroter is rather small - it is from smaller than normal, royal parade spear. It is winged type, though about 3/4-3/5 lenght of the majority examples of this type.
Maybe centre-off centre porpax is connected with weapon coming down the generations? If father was tall and his son shorter it seem to be simply cheaper to place porpax differently, but leave rest of the shield untouched than buying new, smaller aspis. Obviously shield have to survive that long, but I think there were quite a few hoplites who never crossed weapons with enemy, always standing in the middle-back of the phalanx.
Although I think Connolly is right about xyston head and butt, but his prime example (from tumulus psi in Vergina, original publication from Andronikos 1970) is problematic. I believe big spear head should be connected with winged butt, as other spear head is almost certainly from hunting spear.
There is a relief showing xyston, I think I saw it in National Archeological Museum in Athens.
and light is rather poor.Now few points:
Tomb 3 in Vergina is suggested to be tomb of Alexander IV, child king. This may explain that sauroter is rather small - it is from smaller than normal, royal parade spear. It is winged type, though about 3/4-3/5 lenght of the majority examples of this type.
Maybe centre-off centre porpax is connected with weapon coming down the generations? If father was tall and his son shorter it seem to be simply cheaper to place porpax differently, but leave rest of the shield untouched than buying new, smaller aspis. Obviously shield have to survive that long, but I think there were quite a few hoplites who never crossed weapons with enemy, always standing in the middle-back of the phalanx.
Although I think Connolly is right about xyston head and butt, but his prime example (from tumulus psi in Vergina, original publication from Andronikos 1970) is problematic. I believe big spear head should be connected with winged butt, as other spear head is almost certainly from hunting spear.
There is a relief showing xyston, I think I saw it in National Archeological Museum in Athens.
Maciej Pomianowski
known also as \'ETAIROS
known also as \'ETAIROS
