The stereotype about the Homeric Heroes is about well armoured Warriors with swords and spears fighting in duels or primitive phalanxes/loose formations. Some of them were exceptional archers using composite bows (eg. Pandaros, Odysseus). Αrchaeological findings among Egyptians, Mitannians, Caananites, Hittites, Summerians present us a large variety of «exotic» weapons like periform maces, disc maces, sickle swords, throwing sticks, heavy naval spears, etc.

The following short study will brief on details and insight about four experimental reconstructions of Mediterranean Bronze age exotic weapons and three panoplies (armour) that KORYVANTES Association has worked on since 2011, as well as provide a brief on experiences from testing them as part of the bronze age Warrior armour system(s). The work of the Association and the panoplies/weapons reconstructions are part of a larger PhD thesis that is under development by Association members.

We will present the reconstruction and usage of axini (?), epsilon-axe, navmaho xisto (?) and Hittite warthog axe, as well as make a brief presentation of 3 Bronze era panoplies: Mycenaean, Hittite/Trojan, Sea People. All presented reconstructions of panoplies and weapons are custom built by the Association armourer. 

Mycenaeans were using types of crescent axes, piercing axes but also the so called epsilon axe, which is a probably an evolution of the Egyptian duck-bill axe. Minoan axes were typically double blade axes, while there are strong arguments that those axes were ceremonial/votive or associated with female ritual figures. Mycenaeans and Minoans also have used decorated single bladed axes, as documented by archaeological findings from Crete to North Europe. Another interesting axe design comes from Hittites, as depicted on the inner side of the King’s gate at Hattusa. The shape of the axe reminds double warthog teeth, thus we refer to it as warthog axe. Usage of battle axes (both one-handed and two-handed) is a necessity for the period Warriors as effective plate and scale armour had been developed and used (i.e. Dendra Plate Armour, Thebes-Arsenal armour, Hittite scale armour, etc) – similar weapons are used to defeat 15^th century West European medieval knights armour, as well as used by /against Byzantine Catafracts and sailors [1].

It is a fact though that Homer describes briefly some unusual (and less-noble) weapons, like axes clubs (Iliad 7.138) and aksini (Iliad 15.711). War clubs maces were typical weapons of the Bronze era. Homer describes it as great bar clubbed of iron (Iliad 7.138). Findings of spherical or periphorm maces document their usage in all armies of the era (Egypt, Hittite Kingdom, North Europe, Mycenaeans, etc). Various materials were used to build war maces (iron, bronze, stone), depending of the social status and financials of the Warrior. Some archaeological findings though (Agia Triada near Phaistos/Crete) present us some exceptional examples of mallet war maces.

But Homer makes a distinct reference to an unusual weapon, the aksini. It was used to attack Menelaus, who survived the attack and killed the Trojan Warrior (Iliad 13.613), so there is a clear distinction between war clubs / axes and axini. It is a fact also that are not concrete archaeological findings, documentation and written evidence regarding aksini usage and shape, this has lead to a confusion with battle axe. The word axini is used even today in modern Greek language to describe an agricultural tool (pickaxe). Some advise from linguistic experts is needed to clarify the meaning of axini in Ancient Greek eras. But we may assume that improvised agricultural tools were use as weapons by poorer Warriors, this is a safe guess. What is interesting is that Kanellopoulos Museum in Athens exhibits an interesting artifact dated in the 9^th century bc: a heavy hammer with long-horned ending, similar to modern axini. If this was a weapon of the era, was clearly designed to puncture through heavy armour or grab/tear apart opponent plate armour, just like the West European horseman picks.

Navmaho xisto (?) – heavy naval spear / boarding pick

Fight drills

Sea People Warrior fighting on ship deck. Combination of plate armour, wooden shield and Epsilon axe.

The plate armour designed and build by the Association armourer, is a very flexible piece of equipment. The cuirass was first presented at «Journées Gallo-Romaines St-Romain-en-Gal 2012» (Vienne, France), is part of an Association thesis submitted at Pultusk Academy in 2012, also presented at Experimental Archaeology Symposium 2014 (Viminacium Museum, Serbia). Detailed images of the cuirass and helmet from the site of the armourer.

Key characteristic of this cuirass is the flexibility and all round protection it offer to the Warrior body. It weight 14kg including the small bronze pauldrons and linen padding, but the shape and flexibility make it is comfortable for a trained person to carry it for more that 6 hours a day (cumulative) or 2 hours continuously. The main body of the consist of 12 plates attached together using an internal suspension system that is based on leather straps, plus 2 optional bronze pauldrons. The leather straps suspension allow the cuirass to adopt instantly to the body movements as permit the plates to shrink or expand on the vertical axis, but also allow the plates to micro-move on the horizontal axis and absorb the kinetic energy of incoming hits. Easy to remove leather straps connect the front and back parts of the cuirass, adding flexibility and security in emergency situation (remove the cuirass). The plates are placed overlapping on the horizontal axis and are supported by linen padding (20 layers of densely sewn linen). The overlapping placement of the plates plus the linen padding offer exceptional protection.

We consider this cuirass ideal for naval warfare, as it offer the required flexibility for fighting on the decks, but also can be easily removed in an emergency situation (if special leather straps are used). The following image depict a 12th – 10th century bc Warrior, who carries a heavy wooden shield (5Kg, made of simple wood planks with a vertical one-handed grip in the center and a large leather shoulder strap) and a heavy Epsilon axe. Linen grieves, reinforced with bronze elements, and a two-horned helmet decorated with a solar symbol are also part of the panoply. The whole system was very functional, except of the heavy shield… at later stage, we repeated the same drills with a lighter wicker shield, using the same handle system and leather / bronze reinforcements, that proved much more functional and operational.

The panoply cope effectively with the needs of the drill, as the Warrior could perform the required sharp movements and deliver explosive hits using the heavy epsilon axe in one-hand mode.The drill was simulating the movement in a confined crowded environment, typical of a small-sized warship of the era, and hand2hand close combat fight. Why simulated this scenario? Ships of 12th – 10th century bc were small, at the size of large kaiki (Mediterranean fishing boat), with limited space and many obstacles (eg. ropes) to make any large movements or use of large weapons impossible. In this scenario you engage fast in a closed distance fight where small weapons are preferable, and long weapons suddenly can loose their usability. Heavy weapons are also needed in such an environment as you might need to use them in an anti-material role (wood, ropes, heavy textiles). So a heavy Epsilon axe looks a good candidate to consider as it can be used in variety of modes (one-hand or two hands) and and roles (both anti-personnel and anti-material). If for some reason the warrior can not use his shield, this weapon is a nice tool for pin, break or smash enemy’s weapons. Also can be used as hook to deflect the enemy shield. If it is holding near the head, the warrior can use it to smash the enemy skull in very close combat.

Mycenaean Warrior vs Hittite/Trojan Warrior duel. Plate armour vs scale armour.

Dendra armour

Dendra armour is a very unique piece in the history of armour technology and evolution. Found in 1960 by Swedish archaeologist Paul Åstrom, close the small village of Dendra of South Greece, is the only one complete Mycenaean armour survived to date. From a civilization that spanned for more that 7 centuries and dominated East Mediterranean (and parts of Central Europe), we only have a single intact complete panoply, although armour of similar type appears to be in massive usage by Mycenaean Kingdoms. There is a second armour of type, an improved variant, found in the Thebes (Central Greece). An interesting fact about Dendra armour is that it is completely intact with no battle damage(s), meaning that never used in the battle field

Although the Dendra armour is dated to the end of the fifteenth century bc, there is evidence that similar type of armour (or parts of) was used even during Troy war – officially dated to the 12th century bc. According to Spyros Bakas, even though the description is not clear enough, the Cuirass of the son of Phyleus could be a Dendra-type armour [2]. Andrea Salimbeti points to another key reference in the Iliad about this kind of armour (or more likely the improved variant found in Thebes) is when Achilles put on his sacred armour, in fact he tested it to see if it allowed his limbs free movement. This would be essential for anyone wearing a typical Achaean armour with large shoulder guards and girdle plates. Of course this would not be necessary if he were wearing a much simpler cuirass or corselet. (Il. XIX, 384-386).