Byzantine Arms and Armour from Contemporary Images

Apart from pictures of military Saints, there are few representations of Byzantine wargear. The images below give an overview of Byzantine armour styles - mostly from the tenth and eleventh centuries AD, though some are later. Most thumbnails lead to larger images by clicking on the pictures. This information is for research purposes only, and is not to be used for commercial gain. This site is a work in progress. I haven't put in all the links yet - more will be added in due course. Keep coming back to see what's available.

11th century steatite ikon of St George. Vatopedi monastery, Greece

11th century ikon of St Demetrios. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Joshua from the monastery of Hosias Loukas, Greece

Saint Demetrios and Saint Theodore Tyro from the monastery of Hosias Loukas, Greece

Centurion and gambling soldiers from an 11th century gold and enamel ikon of the Crucifixion. Held in Germany

From  the church of Nicholas tou Kasnitzi in  Kastoria -  Saint Merkourios and Saint Nestor. The links lead to a website  about the church, which contains the large pictures.

Fourteenth century mural from a church in Cyprus

Ikon of Saint George. The only visible armour is on his arms - it is likely that the rest is concealed by his clothing - perhaps an epilorikion

From the mid-late 12th century copy of the Chronicle of John Skylitzes held in the Bibliote'ca Nac,ional in Madrid. The first scene is one of the few contemporary illustrations of Varangian Guardsmen. For the second, follow the link, then click "Gallery". It's the 3rd picture in the sequence.

Centurion from crucifixion fresco in the Katholikon at the monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, Kastoria, Greece. It is dated to c. 1260. He appears to be wearing flat-topped lamellar scales with four suspension laces plus a central binding lace. His sleeves are protected by "upside down" lamellar of the same type. Note also the fine scale armour worn by the figure behind the centurion, similar to that found here..

Ikon of St Merkourios, Ohrid, dated c. 1295. He is wearing what appears to be a "waistcoat" style upper garment, lined with mail (see the turned lapel)

For some reason this link won't work in the usual way. However, if you cut and paste the address below and put it in your address bar, you can access the site. It's well worth it - there are several close-up views showing details of the armour.

An 11th century carved ikon of St George, in scale armour, with arm and body protection made of what appears to be a form of lamellar, and closely resembles that seen on the St George ikon from Vatopedi monastery, above.

http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Colleges/ARHU/Depts/ArtHistory/arthfac/gerstel/kastoriaaa.html

An 11th century steatite ikon of St Demetrios as an archer. Note the recurve bow and spear, and  the quilted kavadion with "upside down lamellar" protection for arms and lower body

Another steatite ikon of St Demetrios,  also wearing a kavadion, but this time as a cavalryman. The arm and lower body protection seem this time to be of scales rather than lamellar.

A carved ikon of St George and St Demetrios, probably from the early 12th century. St George (left) wears what could be either mail or scale, while St Demetrios  appears to be wearing a finely quilted kavadion. Both have unusal, possibly stylised, arm and lower body protection. Note Demetrios' long spear and his small kite-shaped shield with a central ridge, and the "reverse" crossguard on St George's sword.

An 11th century carved ikon of St Theodore with sword, shield and spear, and wearing "offset" banded lamellar. His sleeve armour seems similar to the Vatopedi St George, but his kremasmata resemble those of Joshua from Hosias Loukas, both above. This ikon was part of the spoils of the Fourth Crusade, and its new Latin "owner" has carved his own blazon on the shield.