01-02-2010, 11:10 AM
Nought wrong with spaghs and Valpolicella!! Robert!Salud!
Yes..this kontus thing really pickles mine brain. As you know, I have always been interested in linking sarmat ancestry into modern polish society (after 1450) .
When I look at illusatrations of Alans etc many of the pics are super detailed and accurate..serious stuff. The Kontus or lanca is very very long. It is more trhan 12 foot..more like 5.5. And I believe it is right. Why? Because it was designed to overcome the main "problem weapon" of the ubiquituous Greek military contractors with their sarissae en phalanx. This is interesting to me because in the 16 century, when traditional w European chivalry was failing with conventional equestrian knightly equipment due to the new pike formations that outreached the lanca or kontus, the Poles dropped all that kit and "re invented" their cavalry. That is how we got the Winged Husaria of military legend. They too had to deal with Sarissae/pikes of great length but also did it by out reaching them. They imported successful methods used against the Turks from Hungary. This included a super kontus of 5m+ length. And it was lethal for a very long time. How did they do it? Given the length? The kopia, as they called it, was hollow. The cav would turn up with their helpers and a good supply of spares, of course, it was still unwieldy and big, so they had a shoulder harness called a Wytoch. One band went to a cup holding the butt, another to a bridle further forrard than the left hand. So, the whole lance outfit swung through an arc pivoting on the right shoulder/chest. But, we are talking about massive lances.
Anyway, my point is this. That stuff really worked and there is nothing whatever in it that was beyong Alan or Sarmat technology..especially if roman army workshops were available. I ve read many accounts of peopel seeing Alans fiddling about at hip level with saddle likit and bits and pieces. All very hazy and inconclusive. To me, that what you would do with a wytoch.
REf Malcor...yes...kanal vision they call it. Pity. I hope your book on Artor is going well. I ve looked for tamgas at Ribchester but never found any. Arborea and Catterick are on my list for searches. Ref:composite bows, i ll bet the glue on them didnt last long in western Europ's filthy wet climate!!
Sorry to waffle at loength
Rodi
Yes..this kontus thing really pickles mine brain. As you know, I have always been interested in linking sarmat ancestry into modern polish society (after 1450) .
When I look at illusatrations of Alans etc many of the pics are super detailed and accurate..serious stuff. The Kontus or lanca is very very long. It is more trhan 12 foot..more like 5.5. And I believe it is right. Why? Because it was designed to overcome the main "problem weapon" of the ubiquituous Greek military contractors with their sarissae en phalanx. This is interesting to me because in the 16 century, when traditional w European chivalry was failing with conventional equestrian knightly equipment due to the new pike formations that outreached the lanca or kontus, the Poles dropped all that kit and "re invented" their cavalry. That is how we got the Winged Husaria of military legend. They too had to deal with Sarissae/pikes of great length but also did it by out reaching them. They imported successful methods used against the Turks from Hungary. This included a super kontus of 5m+ length. And it was lethal for a very long time. How did they do it? Given the length? The kopia, as they called it, was hollow. The cav would turn up with their helpers and a good supply of spares, of course, it was still unwieldy and big, so they had a shoulder harness called a Wytoch. One band went to a cup holding the butt, another to a bridle further forrard than the left hand. So, the whole lance outfit swung through an arc pivoting on the right shoulder/chest. But, we are talking about massive lances.
Anyway, my point is this. That stuff really worked and there is nothing whatever in it that was beyong Alan or Sarmat technology..especially if roman army workshops were available. I ve read many accounts of peopel seeing Alans fiddling about at hip level with saddle likit and bits and pieces. All very hazy and inconclusive. To me, that what you would do with a wytoch.
REf Malcor...yes...kanal vision they call it. Pity. I hope your book on Artor is going well. I ve looked for tamgas at Ribchester but never found any. Arborea and Catterick are on my list for searches. Ref:composite bows, i ll bet the glue on them didnt last long in western Europ's filthy wet climate!!
Sorry to waffle at loength
Rodi
Roderic Wout..
Today\'s truths are often tomorrow\'s lies
Today\'s truths are often tomorrow\'s lies
