News:

Welcome to the SoA Forum.  You are welcome to browse through and contribute to the Forums listed below.

Main Menu

Iberian Warriors

Started by Dave Knight, November 26, 2017, 09:15:19 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Duncan Head

One of the best-know representations of Iberian warriors. The apparent armour and the uniformity has led to the suggestion that they represent auxiliaries in Punic or Roman service.
Duncan Head

Dangun

The artists lack of skill (see brain explosion when confronted with a horse rider with two legs) might impede inference?

Patrick Waterson

Either that or Spanish cavalry really did ride sidesaddle, at least in some situations.

I would suggest that whatever the apparent or real anatomical deficiencies, the uniformity of equipment does suggest uniform equipment.  Noteworthy is the differentiation of a single figure with a crested helmet, perhaps an officer, and the right-facing infantry bearing javelin in one hand and falcata in the other while their opponents have javelin in one hand and shield in the other.  One may note also the different styles of armour despite identical shields.

I would be very tempted to associate this decoration with the battle of Castulo in 211 BC.  This is of course just one possibility; there are many others.
"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened." - Winston Churchill