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Mikko Kuusirati
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 Posted: Mon 06 Aug, 2018 11:52 am Post subject: |
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They knew, but those bits were not unwanted - leopard pelts with the head and paws attached are not an unusual warrior accoutrement in period art.
"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
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Matthew Amt
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| Posted: Mon 06 Aug, 2018 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Mikko Kuusirati wrote: | | They knew, but those bits were not unwanted - leopard pelts with the head and paws attached are not an unusual warrior accoutrement in period art. |
I know, I just had to razz Joe! 
Matthew
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Joe A
Location: Philadelphia, USA Joined: 17 Oct 2013
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Mon 06 Aug, 2018 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Matthew Amt wrote: | | Joe A wrote: | Never thought much about thigh guards til now. Interesting discussion.
In the "Spartan Relief Vase" note that the very heavily armored Hoplite with the thigh guards is supported by a much less armored companion to the right with only a helmet for protection, a Naue II sword, and what appears to be rocks in both hands. His braided hair is interesting as it may exclude this character being a slave. If you look closely at what this lightly armed character is wearing you will note an animal head dangling down below his waist and behind the scabbard, an early "spolas" perhaps? |
It's probably Herakles--lion pelt! (Unless you think early leatherworkers didn't know how to trim unwanted parts off a hide before making armor out of it?  )
Matthew |
We should not take the depictions too seriously even if it's all we have to go by at times, BUT I discounted the Herc pelt idea as he always wore the lion head as his helmet/hat. Private parts protector?
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Matthew Amt
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| Posted: Tue 07 Aug, 2018 7:14 am Post subject: |
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| Joe A wrote: | | Matthew Amt wrote: | | Joe A wrote: | Never thought much about thigh guards til now. Interesting discussion.
In the "Spartan Relief Vase" note that the very heavily armored Hoplite with the thigh guards is supported by a much less armored companion to the right with only a helmet for protection, a Naue II sword, and what appears to be rocks in both hands. His braided hair is interesting as it may exclude this character being a slave. If you look closely at what this lightly armed character is wearing you will note an animal head dangling down below his waist and behind the scabbard, an early "spolas" perhaps? |
It's probably Herakles--lion pelt! (Unless you think early leatherworkers didn't know how to trim unwanted parts off a hide before making armor out of it? )
Matthew |
We should not take the depictions too seriously even if it's all we have to go by at times, BUT I discounted the Herc pelt idea as he always wore the lion head as his helmet/hat. Private parts protector? |
OH, that's a good point! Plus a rock isn't a club. Hmmmm....
Matthew
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Dan Howard
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| Posted: Tue 07 Aug, 2018 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Matthew Amt wrote: | | It's probably Herakles--lion pelt! (Unless you think early leatherworkers didn't know how to trim unwanted parts off a hide before making armor out of it? ) |
It is Menelaus; he wore a leopard pelt in the Iliad. The artist specifically gave the figure a spotted pelt so he didn't have to label him "Menelaus". Ancient Greeks would have known who it was supposed to be. Agamemnon and Diomedes wore lion pelts. Dolon wore a wolf pelt. There are others who wore animal pelts but I can't think of them.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen and Sword Books
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