Manuscript from the Tarim BasinCavalryman in the city on the YârYarkhoto A larger image of Cavalryman in the city on the Yar, Tarim Basin. Reiterbildnis aus der Stadt auf dem Yâr Source: Chotscho by Albert von Le Coq, Plate 48 |
Manuscript from the Tarim BasinCavalryman in the city on the YârYarkhotoA larger image of Cavalryman in the city on the Yar, Tarim Basin. Reiterbildnis aus der Stadt auf dem Yâr Source: Chotscho by Albert von Le Coq, Plate 48 |
Translation of the description in German:
The face of the rider shows East Asian traits; slit, slightly slanted eyes and the weak, drooping mustache. The head is covered with a faint light blue paint, so is probably a steel helmet, on its centre is provided a large tubular attachment for accommodating the crest. On each side of the helmet above the ears, is located a round ornament plate, from the top and rear spirally winding lines emerge, which together form a wing-like object. The whole thing is obviously a misunderstood representation of the known Sassanid wing helmet. The face of the warrior is surrounded by a wide strip that edges the coif of elongated platelets (made of "cuir bouilli" or iron). This neck protection seems to be attached to the rim of the helmet. The colour of the plates obtained here and there is a bright greenish blue.
The entire body of the warrior is reinforced with a composite of similar, even larger armoured, platelets, the upper and lower ends of each platelet row are covered by a broad, red or reddish brown band which is made apparently from the same material as the edging of the Hauberk.
The right arm of the rider is raised, unfortunately, only the upper arm and the hand is well preserved. The forearm is badly damaged, and he does not seem to have put on the armoured sleeves, because this seems to hang down at the elbow, it is visible between the body line of the rider and the ends of the hair of the horse's flying mane. (However, it is striking that the platelets here are in the wrong direction and are perhaps something else.) In his raised hand the rider carries a round decorated offering dish with high sides. On this deep dish is a rounded vessel with short, brown-red coloured top with bent neck, below the neck are three jewelry lines including a series of eight brown red dots. The spout of the vessel is directed toward the rider. Above the vessel floats a bird with outstretched wings, apparently about to settle down on the proffered vessel. Whether the subject matter appearing on the right above the dish head and neck is another bird, I leave undecided.
The left arm is completely destroyed. Only the hand is visible, it appears not to be armoured and he holds the shaft carried on the left shoulder.
A flag whose reddish-coloured five-tailed cloth flutters behind the rider's head. The flag also served as a lance. Unfortunately, the shoulder and elbow are so damaged that you can not tell whether their protection or special equipment were attached to the armour - above and to the right of the left hand is a black loop-like object that could have possibly been used to attach a special shoulder plate : a similar object seems to be just visible on the left (on the right chest of the figure).
Similarly, it is impossible to detect any part of the saddle. The shape of the horse is severely damaged; on the head you can see the listening ear upright. Beneath the jaw depends a large bluish flower bud from which trails bulging red tassel hair. A similar puff of a bluish color is located on the centre of the lower chest belt. Carried on the head of the horse is a funnel-like attachment, perhaps of the same type as the armour material, from which protrudes a tuft of flowing hair. The neckline is indicated by the flying mane hair. The entire posterior curve of the spine is missing. The tail extends right down to the ground (of a very small horse) the lower third either tucked into a knot or tied with ribbons.
Although this is very fragmentary, it is claimed after careful consideration, that it is a later, East Asian influenced, representation of the older settlements in the country often depicting legendary events (cf. MA Stein, Ancient Khotan, Oxford, 1907, Plate LIV and Plate LXII, together with associated text.)
Referenced as figure 464 in The military technology of classical Islam by D Nicolle
464. Painted paper fragment from Yār, 9th century AD, east Turkistānī, Staatliche Murseen Dahlem, West Berlin (Coq).
p222 Plumes are easier to pin down. In 10th century Khurāsān they were known as par santīz.59 They are also very common in the pictorial sources. This is particularly true of the eastern regions, both Islamic and non-Islamic, from where the tall helmet plume or feather may have spread west as part of a general adoption of Persian or Central Asian military fashions 618, 67, 90, 91, 196, 330, 422, 439, 455, 464, 574 and 651).
59. Firdawsī, op. cit., p. 427
618. Helmet from Gnezdovo, 10th century AD, Kievan Russian, State Hist. Museum, Moscow (Kir M).
67. Fresco from Eastern Temple, Tumsuk, late 6th century AD, east Turkistānī (in situ. ex-Stein S).
90. Silvered dish, Isola Rizza Dish, late 6th-early 7th centuries AD, Byzantine or Lombardo-Byzantine, Castelvecchio Museum, Verona (Hes).
91. Bronze brow-plate of a helmet, late 6th-early 7th centuries AD, Lombardo-Byzantine, Bargello, Florence (Gui, Dix).
196A to 196D. Silver plates, A - 'Israelites, Goliath and Philistines,' B - 'David with Saul's armour,' C - 'Saul's soldiers,' D - 'David annointed,' The David Plates 613-629 AD, Byzantine, Metropolitan Museum, New York (WRW).
330A to 330I. Rock-cut statue, early 7th century AD, Sassanian, in it Ṭāq-i Bustān (Fuk).
422A to 422X. Manuscript, Warqa wa Gulshāh, 12th century AD, Azarbayjān, Topkapu Lib., Ms. Hazine 841, ff. 13/15a, 3/6a, 3/6a, 4/7b, 7/9b, 8/10b, 9/11a, 10/12a, 11/13a, 12/13b, 13/15a, 17/18a, 20/20a, 22/21b, 23/22a, 24/23b, 24/25b, 37/35a, 38/36b, 39/37b, 40/38b, 43/40a and 69/66a, Istanbul (Malik).
455. Statuette from Sorcuk, 8th century AD, east Turkistānī, Museum für Völk., Staatliche Museen Dahlem, West Berlin (Coq).
574. Relief, late 11th century AD, Italo-Norman, in situ, Church of San Bernadetto, Brindisi.
651. Manuscript, Astrology of Abū Maʿshar al Balkhī, early 14th century AD , Egyptian (?), Bib. Nat., Ms. Ar. 2583, Paris. (Hal).
Referenced in Attila and the Nomad Hordes by David Nicolle (Author), Angus McBride (Illustrator), p29:
A damaged drawing from Yarkhoto probably illustrates an Uighur warrior carrying a white banner. His bowcase is designed for a strung weapon, his sword has a slight curve and he appears to have the armour of his lower right arm loosened. (Staatliche Mus. Preuss. Kulturbesitz, MIK III 17, West Berlin)
