by Giuseppe Rava
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The soldiers in white are referenced for Plate A2 (left):
OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS PREPARING FOR THE BULGARIAN SIEGE, AUGUST 913
A2: Primikérios Kandidatos of VIII Skhóla
The kandidatos, reconstructed from folio 215v of the Commentaries of St Gregorius Nazianzenus now in the Bibliothéque Nationale in Paris,
wears the costly representative parade uniform (allaxima) of his unit.
The white kandidatikion is furnished with a richly decorated collar (maniakion), and decorated with gold klavoi and orbiculi.
The gold epikarpia on his wrists are copied from the Thessaloniki specimen. He is armed with a spear of Frankish type, with a 'winged' head (obscured here).
The colours of his richly decorated skoutarion could be the semeion of either V or VIII Skhóla.
The figure with raised sword is referenced for Plate B1 (right):
PALACE CEREMONY, 31 MAY 946
B1: Guardsman of the Imperial Manglavion
Posed on steps in the Imperial palace, this figure is again reconstructed from the St Gregorius Nazianzenus manuscript,
with the red skaramangion and trousers of the Imperial Maghlavítai which echoed the dress of the old Roman lictores.
The long-shafted mace, and the golden whip in his belt, are symbolic of the duties and prerogatives of this unit;
their 'police' role was not simply ceremonial, and they were empowered to inflict punishments up to and including death.
Note his sword, furnished with a sleeve-like extension of the hilt down the blade below the crossguard.
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by Giuseppe Rava
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