The Byzantine weaponry and equipment in the Homilies of St. Gregory Nazianzus (paris.gr. 510)

Authors:

Pages: 244-253

Abstract:

The author stop attention to the part of the illustrations they are presented Weaponry and Equipment in the famous manuscript “The Homilies of St. Gregory of Nazianzus” (Paris.gr.510) – completed in Constantinople in 879–882. The shields have are usually of round shape or have oval one. Basically, they are painted in red and much rarely in blue. They are outlined by a golden or blue stripe. Their decoration is difficult to be determined but some geometric forms and simple wavy lines or vine branches. The shields of the infantry soldiers are larger, with a diameter of about 1,00 m, while these of the cavalry men are smaller – about 0,50 м. Comparing the already established types of Byzantine swords named “Garabonc Type” (five examples; dated to the second half of 9th century), the author concluded that part of the miniatures in the Homilies are close parallels. Comparing images of stirrups in the Homilies, the author assumed that the triangular shape – so called Magyars stirrups, was familiar to the masters of Byzantine miniatures. The analyses of the art parallels in the Homilies helps to add some arguments, which support to determine some weaponry that have been discovered either during regular excavation or by chance

Keywords:

Homilies of St. Gregory of Nazianzus; Byzantine manuscripts; Byzantine Weaponry and Equipment; shields; stirrups.

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