Byzantine Weapons and Warfare

[egfroth]

Some thoughts.

Are we dead sure about feansiska confined to franks only at this time?

Not totally, but that's what the evidence suggests.

Is pictorial depiction to be confined to "orthodoxy"?

Not necessarily, but if not, there should surely be some note that this gear is not typical. As far as I can make out, the whole purpose of such pictures is to show the typical, so we can get a picture of what early Byzantine soldiers looked like.

Because if not the guy could:
1 being a frankish merc or outcast found his way in the Roman army
2 have looted the axe or paid a smith to make him one

Of course, but then they wouldn't be characteristic of Byzantine soldiers. They'd be something else.

I think they just got it wrong.