Sassanian Army

[elendir]

I remember reading that the Sassanians drew to the chest, not to the ear. I'll see if I can find the reference again.

You can try this forum as well, they might be able to help you.

http://www.societyofarcher-antiquaries.org/forum/

Daniel

[jonwr]

In all the archery I have done ,the only time I have noticed accuracy issues with fletching is when left and right wing feathers are mixed.
Now I have no claim to be anywhere near a great shooter but I am competent. I have messed with 2 fletch,3 fletch shooting cock in and out and odd degrees of fletch. Even low 4 fletch without a great loss in accuracy.
But as the saying goes "Your results may vary" :lol:
Jonwr.

[Gäiten]

There is still debated if the Sassanian Clibinarii used shields from the 3rd century onwards.

I believe an expert rider can carry a small buckler shield, while properly handling the long kontos. In an Osprey book (Rome Enemies: Parthians and Sassanians), you can see a Asavaran, who carries a shield fixed to the shoulder and not the arm.
Furthermore, when you go into melee battles or the kontos is lost/broken, the Asavaran were fighting with backup weapons as swords, maces, axes. Using then a shield is just reasonable.

Some researchers believe that the reliefs of Bishapur showing the triumph of Shapur I shows Sassanian nobles with small shields.

Even Ammianus make some statements about elite warriors equipped with shields. And the Sassanian elite warriors were the noble-born cavalrymen.

First, during the Siege of Bezabde, Shapur II was protected by somewhat of a shield "testudo" by his body guards. These guards (Pushtighban or Immortals) were generally mounted.

Second during Julians siege of Pirasabora A. mentions Iron Men equipped with shields.

Another example. It shows a Coptic wall painting, 4th-5th century, called "Pharaoh`s Army crossing the Red Sea" (in-situ Al-Bagawat, Egypt). It shows cavalry and infantry equipped in an un-Roman manner. Two figures are equipped with the forward-curled Phrygian cap, something very popularly associated with Persians (for more examples of that see Arch of Galerius and Column of Arcadius). The cavalry is equipped with shields.

Furthermore, you have to consider the development of the Clibinarii. First they were very Parthian . But with ongoing decades they had to develop new tactics and equipment due they had to face new enemies and tactics.
Due my researches I believe, while fighting the Romans in the 3rd and 4th century they field few shield-equipped lancer cavalry, but with the increasing threats of invading nomad steppe tribes (Huns, Chionitae, Hephtalites, Turks), they had to transform.

Instead of fighting more infantry-based armies now horse archers were the main threat to them. The superheavy cavalry was in disadvantage, too slow, too cumbersome. So they decreased the armor but giving them additional protection by using a shield. Finally that transformation was finished in the 6th century. From then on you can read many descriptions and see monuments that Sassanian clibinari were equipped with shields.

As with Sassanian cavalry there was a variety of equipment with them and the the main taks for lancers was not to fight infantry, it was to protect the horse archers for attacks from other lancers.
True and proven steppe warfare that was the base for Iranian/Sassanian cavalry warfare, either.

Do you know more examples of shield equipped early Asavaran cavalry (stelae, texts, monuments, paintings)?

[Zenobia of Palmyra]

This has been a fascinating thread!

I read that Persian infantry came from Media. And that they still used shields made out of wicker. I think that's funny, wicker shields couldn't possibly withstand a sword blow, could they?? :o

[Gäiten]

This has been a fascinating thread!

I read that Persian infantry came from Media. And that they still used shields made out of wicker. I think that's funny, wicker shields couldn't possibly withstand a sword blow, could they?? :o

As far as I know shields made in such a way are as good as those made of wooden planks.

[JP Vieira]

Very interesting data here: it will help on my projected paintings: thanks

[bachmat66]

and how do you find the reconstructions of heavy Sassanian horsemen we,Patryk Skupniewicz and I, did for the Ancient Warfare magazine a while back?

[Gäiten]

They are wonderful