Pages: 377-400

The article takes a look at three images of the 7th century presenting the development of side-hanged, long, wedged weapons from three culturally differing parts of Eurasia — Byzantium, Sasanian Persia and East-European steppes.
1) From Byzantium — the vessel with the Battle of David and Goliath from Lambousa Treasure, dated with control marks to 613—629. The weapon hanging on Goliath’s belt is with side placed scabbard attachments, single-edged, with inclined handle. The weapon is not typical of Byzantium of the period but rather of the “strangers” — the barbarians and Persia. Using an accepted idea that the plate presents allegorically the battle of Heraclius himself with a Sasanian general, the author assumes that the weapon is some kind of a marker of a “stranger”, i. e. it is not typical of Byzantine warfare, but it is not unknown either. That is the weapon known from Justinian’s Novels as παραµήρια or semispatha.
2) The Plate of Pur-i Vahman. The details of garment, weapon and equipment of the rider date it immediately after the collapse of Sasanian Persia. The palash bears the features of similar ones, typical of Persia in this period. Its only exception is the crossguard, not characteristic of the Persian ones. It is an innovation inspired by Byzantium.
3) The Saddle Bone plate from Verchniy Chir-yurt mound necropolis from the last third of the 7th century presents an image of a sabre.
All three images tell about a rapid development of this type of weapon in the 7th c. and the mutual influences of different regions and cultures.

Keywords: Byzantium, Sasanian Persia, East-European steppes, Avarian Khanate, 7th century, toreutics, bone carving, sword-palash-sabre, παραµήρια, weapon specifications

Information about author:

Nikolay Hrissimov (Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria). Doctor of History. St.Cyril and Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo. Tarnovski str., Veliko Tarnovo, 5000, Bulgaria
E-mail: [email protected]