Byzantine Weapons and Warfare

[Adam E.]

While I'm at it, another curiosity. This is a fresco of St. George in rather strange 'armour'. Taken in the Ihlara Valley, Cappadocia. I can't remember the name of the church but it is just across the river from the Linseed House.

[Peter Raftos]

Do you have a dating for these?
I would hazard a guess that the armour above is actually a kabadion and this is a tubular type of quilting.

[Adam E.]

The frescoes date from the tenth and eleventh centuries. More from the same area (Church of St George).

Unfortunately they have been badly damaged. Interesting features: the 'Turk', the shield patterns, the split in the kremasmata, the horse harnesses and the knotted tail.

I actually have hundreds of images. I spent three months travelling around what was the Eastern Empire. I started in Venice, then Ravenna, Florence (it was on the way), Rome, worked my way down to Brindisi, crossed to Corfu and traveled around Greece (Ioannina, Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Mystras, Athens, among others), then Crete, Cyprus and Turkey (Cappadocia and Thrace, mainly). I was armed with a cheap camera and a strange interest in all things Byzantine.

I don't want to clog up the forum with images, so I'm just trying to choose those that are military-related, interesting and that people may never have seen on the internet before.

Any requests for images from certain regions/churches, let me know.

Cheers

[Orlirva]

Sound like a great trip! Any pictures of backs, especially of soldiers,that may show details ( fastenings etc) would be of great interest.
-Rick

The frescoes date from the tenth and eleventh centuries. More from the same area (Church of St George).


I actually have hundreds of images. I spent three months travelling around what was the Eastern Empire. I started in Venice, then Ravenna, Florence (it was on the way), Rome, worked my way down to Brindisi, crossed to Corfu and traveled around Greece (Ioannina, Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Mystras, Athens, among others), then Crete, Cyprus and Turkey (Cappadocia and Thrace, mainly). I was armed with a cheap camera and a strange interest in all things Byzantine.
Cheers

[Adam E.]

Alas, no. And trust me, I looked. There is no shortage of frescoes with highly detailed representations of belt buckles, scabbards, shield grips, etc., especially in churches like the Chora in Istanbul. Other than a couple of images of a 'buttoned-up' epilorikon, I didn't find find any images of how, say, a klivanion may have been secured.

The only images I know of that show how a cuirass may have been worn are from the Paris Psalter. These show a cuirass with laced sides.

I also found on the web a couple of Serbian frescoes that show soldiers' backs. Interestingly, they show a line from neck to waist. Others show a similar line at the front - fastening or decoration?


Cheers

[Orlirva]

Even so, great Picts!
these I have not seen - I suppose I can see why the heavily defaced ones don't make it into art books, but many of these are +very+ interesting. Thanks again! -Rick

[John Conyard]

I was a Viking today, but eventually got snowed off. Then I went and had some fun.

This is on Fulford battlefield, 1066 and all that. But the idea was to be a Varangian, but rather than a member of the Emperor’s axe bearing guard this man is probably part of a band contracted for a set period like those brought to Byzantium by Harold Sigurdson.

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[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Great picture! Is that you?

i was just wondering about an axe handle like that earlier today!
You are obviously the man to see!

What about Harold Hadradur?

[John Conyard]

I just bought some ash, and axed out a handle in next to no time at all. It was a fun thing to do.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Once I get the axe head I am after, i will have to get a decent bit.

An interesting article. http://www.valhs.org/history/articles/m ... ng_axe.htm

[Robert Vermaat]

This is on Fulford battlefield, 1066 and all that.

Cool! I mean: cold! Great picture John.

[Urselius]

In the series of three fresco photos the central one has a suggestion of the rider wearing a splinted greave - or is it just me?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Yes, the second one. Certainly looks that way to me too!

[Adam E.]

Here's a better picture of the 'greave'. It's unfortunate that so many of the frescoes are in such a bad state.

When I get some time, I'll post a few images from other regions. I have quite a few images of greaves - though none of splinted construction like this.

Cheers

[hoplite14gr]

Byzantine Armor Reconstructions by D. Katsikis.