Lost_Warrior Posted February 26, 2006 Report Share Posted February 26, 2006 I read in a book on the Roman military (I'd have to look up the book again now as it is not a part of my collection) about a section of Roman cavalry jokingy called "oven men" (possibly cataphracti) because of their heavy armor. They wore tall pointed helmets and heavy chainmail armor, causing them to resemble a giant chainmail starfish somewhat (at least in the picture offered in the book) and their horses were very heavily armored. I have not seen them in any other book however, and I was wondering if anyone here knew any more about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted February 26, 2006 Report Share Posted February 26, 2006 try "Romes Enemies " (3) Parthians and Sassanids (Osprey Men at Arma series), this will give you the lead into the subject.The allusion to the "clay oven" pun is given in that volume.Witness the splendour of the Sassanid Clibanaphoroii! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted February 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 I've read that the "oven men" gained their name by the extreme temperatures endured under all of that heavy armor... Ah so it was the enemies of Rome? Were they ever used by Rome herself as perhaps auxiliaries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmo Posted February 27, 2006 Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 Sarmatians had also heavy armored cavalry. They are depicted on the Tropeum Trajani monument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted March 2, 2006 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 I have seen these - but I don't remember the details. I suspect they were auxillaries though. The only romans I know of who armoured themselves like this were the crupellarii - and they were gladiators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted March 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Hmm...now I'm even more curious. When I get the chance I'll try to find the book in my school library and quote what it says about them. It was just a tiny blurb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted March 2, 2006 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Ive put an illustration of the Clibanarius in the gallery area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted March 2, 2006 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 (edited) GOT IT! (caldrail jumps up and down on seat excitedly) The answer is the Clibanarii, introduced by the emperor Constantius in the style of the persian cataphracts Oh darn, beaten by seconds.... Edited March 2, 2006 by caldrail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted March 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Thanks for posting that Pertinax. I'll look up the book again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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