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Skvortsov
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B~M
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17.09.2018 23:03:22
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Рубрики
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Древняя история;
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Накладка на древко копья
The Vermand Treasure: A Testimony to the Presence of the Sarmatians in the Western Roman
Empire
Author(s): Deborah Schorsch
Source: Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 21 (1986), pp. 17-40
The first of the two decorative plaques is actually
an irregular, though symmetrical, end-to-end assemblage
of various shapes and motifs with two projecting
rings for attachment to a lance shaft (Figure 7).
Among the motifs are standard provincial Roman
rosettes, spirals, arabesques, and knobs, as well as
several more unusual forms. The dominant motif is
a six-pointed star created by the intersection of two
isosceles triangles set within a circle.'4 The connecting
rings of this "plaque" are the sinuously curved
bodies of imaginary dragonlike beasts,'5 decorated
with a regular pattern of small circles, and at one
end is a similarly dotted cicada (Figures 9, lo). The
plaque, certainly the most impressive piece of the
Vermand Treasure, is a skillful synthesis of an assortment
of shapes, textures, and tonal values, executed
with the highest quality of workmanship.
Other than its obvious decorative value, this lanceshaft
plaque quite possibly had a practical purpose.
Whereas in classical antiquity lance heads were secured
by inserting and riveting the wooden shaft into
the socket, a barbarian innovation was to have shaft
straps, iron extensions from each side of the bottom
of the socket, which fitted along the sides of the shaft
and were held by a metal ring.'6 The Vermand lanceshaft
plaque was undoubtedly on the top of the shaft,
visible at eye level when the lance was held upright,
and could have served as a ring for shaft straps. In
addition to making the lance head more secure, the
straps would have prevented an enemy from chopping
through the end of the lance when it was thrust
within his reach.