05-13-2007, 11:39 AM
Again, I ask what evidence we have for the assertion that a yellow banner signified peace while a red banner signified war? I know of nothing to back this up. Can anybody provide a citation, or is it an unsupported assertion?
Regarding the paper I mentioned before about Byzantine banners, for those with access to it, it is called Standards and Insignia of Byzantium, by Andrea Babuin. It appeared in Byzantion Tome LXXI (2001). There are 98 illustrations of Byzantine insignia and banners, dating from 20 BC all the way to the 15th century AD. (BTW, no mention in this paper of any colour distinctions in banners for peace and war).
Peter Raftos, do you have access to Byzantion, or would you like me to photocopy the paper and send it to you? (If so, send me your snail mail address off-list. Note: there are 30 pages doublesided.)
Theodosius, I've temporarily put a better pic of Basil II in his gilded armour at http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/Basil_II.JPG . It won't be up for long, so get it while you can. If it is lamellar, it's an unusual type. You can see more about it in ‘Kremasmata, kabadion, klibanion: some aspects of middle Byzantine military equipment reconsidered’ by Dr Tim Dawson. Though his diagram shows two vertical laces and one horizontal, in the original picture they all just look like dots to me.
Regarding the paper I mentioned before about Byzantine banners, for those with access to it, it is called Standards and Insignia of Byzantium, by Andrea Babuin. It appeared in Byzantion Tome LXXI (2001). There are 98 illustrations of Byzantine insignia and banners, dating from 20 BC all the way to the 15th century AD. (BTW, no mention in this paper of any colour distinctions in banners for peace and war).
Peter Raftos, do you have access to Byzantion, or would you like me to photocopy the paper and send it to you? (If so, send me your snail mail address off-list. Note: there are 30 pages doublesided.)
Theodosius, I've temporarily put a better pic of Basil II in his gilded armour at http://www.angelfire.com/empire/egfroth/Basil_II.JPG . It won't be up for long, so get it while you can. If it is lamellar, it's an unusual type. You can see more about it in ‘Kremasmata, kabadion, klibanion: some aspects of middle Byzantine military equipment reconsidered’ by Dr Tim Dawson. Though his diagram shows two vertical laces and one horizontal, in the original picture they all just look like dots to me.
"It is safer and more advantageous to overcome the enemy by planning and generalship than by sheer force"
The Strategikon of Emperor Maurice
Steven Lowe
Australia
The Strategikon of Emperor Maurice
Steven Lowe
Australia
