by Giuseppe Rava
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Plate E IMPERIAL LION-HUNT, SYRIA, c. 975
E3: Cavalryman of the Athanatoi
This member of the èlite Taghmatic regiment, 'the Immortals', is from the Menologion of Basil II.
The gilded klivanion is of typical banded lamellar construction with central rivets, and the kremasmata lappets of the lower border are silvered.
The white command-rank sash (loros) is probably of silk. The light blue chlamys has a splendid ornamented tablion in gold thread
(see also 2).
The richly decorated dark red trousers (anaxyrida) show a pattern of gold circlets between gold vertical stripes,
and are tucked inside white and cerulean kampotouvia.
The spear has a silvered head and a globular terminal. The light blue shield (cheiroskoutarion) has a gilded rim and is decorated with white dots, in imitation of pearls.
The spathion is carried in a black scabbard with light blue fittings.
Source: pp.42-43, Byzantine Imperial Guardsmen 925-1025: The Tághmata and Imperial Guard by Timothy Dawson
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