Depiction of Arabs

[Rex Germanius]

Despite the paucity of images containing Arabic units, I feel profoundly disquieted by the presentation of Arabs, especially the archers in the image below:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Note that roughly two thirds of the men lack head gear, exposing themselves to the brutal desert sun. Even though some city dwellers in Arabia never wore keffiyehs or their equivalents, soldiers in the field, whether levied from rural, nomadic, or urban areas, would almost universally adopt some form of covering - the heat and sand-storms necessitate protection.

Is this intentional? I understand there's a fair degree of flexibility regarding unit appearance, but some things are simply subject to cold reason.

Edit: If the spoiler isn't working, here's the link - http://imageshack.us/a/img267/7327/k...3201620096.jpg

[Coldfire88]

They could use improvement yes...a scarf around the face rather than the head to protect it (or both head and face) and they wouldnt leave the legs exposed to sand winds...

they probably resembled arab low tier units in medieval times but less coloreful.

[Cyclops]

Do you have EB era evidence of headwear for soldiers?

[Rex Germanius]

No, primarily historical extrapolation based on logic. Keffiyehs, applied loosely, dominated northern Semitic groups far before Alexander's father's father ever thought about being born. Given the somewhat uniform climate in the Arabian Peninsula and the exchange of customs and traditions via trade, adopting a scarf-like head-covering simply makes sense, especially considering it's just a strip of cloth wrapped around the head. Frankly, not much worse than what the EBII team must base their work on.

[Cyclops]

Or sombreros, would sombreros logially fit? They had straw, surely.

I have read (in Robin Lane Fox's The Unauthorised Edition) that the cloth head gear so often depicted in Biblical films is a dreadful anachronism. Thats quite a bit after Phillip thought about being born so you might want to rethink your logic.

Pretty sure there are ancient depictions of arabs with skullcaps, round hats, headbands and even turban-like headgear. They are also often depicted bareheaded.

Please post links to evidnece of the keffiyeh in the EB period, its really helpful to the team and they do take input from posters (properly sourced etc) really well, they are a friendly bunch.

[wudang_clown]

the heat and sand-storms necessitate protection

Yemeni tribesmen:

Some other Yemenis:

Beja tribesmen (not Arabia, but Assuan, similar climate)


You wouldn't go out during a sand-storm, that would be stupid, so what would you need a protection for?

[Coldfire88]

Yemen is close to the sea I dont think they have sand storms as rough in the center of arabian peninsula.

Also the suggestion that they only covered their face/legs in violent storms and they didnt go out in storms so they dont really need them is wrong.. it protects from the sun cooking your face all day long and sand getting into your nose/mouth/eyes, only some wind will do that not storms, your in a desert after all.

Bedouins






Sahara desert tribes




Notice non in these pictures they have their legs/knees exposed.

[wudang_clown]

You don't think they have rough sandstorms in Yemen? Then maybe use google to find out?

http://yementimes.com/en/1557/news/6...-residents.htm

Seriously. If you are not sure something, then don't use is as an argument.

Moreover, can you present any evidence of two armies clashing in a sandstorm, archers shooting their arrows in conditions of poor or zero visibility and in violent wind?

Moreover, that Bedouins cover themselves in cloths from tip to toe is undeniable, as is the fact that other people in Africa and Arabia, living in more or less arid zones do not cover themselves in cloths from tip to toe (vide my pictures). So what exactly is your point? That if Bedouins are completely covered, then EB tribes should be covered as well?

[Rex Germanius]

Or sombreros, would sombreros logially fit? They had straw, surely.

I have read (in Robin Lane Fox's The Unauthorised Edition) that the cloth head gear so often depicted in Biblical films is a dreadful anachronism. Thats quite a bit after Phillip thought about being born so you might want to rethink your logic.

In the Babylonian Talmud: Berakoth, there is a mention of "When he spreads a kerchief over his head he should say: 'Blessed is He who crowns Israel with glory'," which seems to indicate some scarf-like covering for the head, ie a keffiyeh, loosely applied. The Mishnah, from which this was pulled, was first redacted around 220 AD and pulled on oral tradition dating back, yes, hundreds of years before the birth of Philip.

Although not conclusive, it is an indication.

[Cyclops]

In the Babylonian Talmud: Berakoth, there is a mention of "When he spreads a kerchief over his head he should say: 'Blessed is He who crowns Israel with glory'," which seems to indicate some scarf-like covering for the head, ie a keffiyeh, loosely applied. The Mishnah, from which this was pulled, was first redacted around 220 AD and pulled on oral tradition dating back, yes, hundreds of years before the birth of Philip.

Although not conclusive, it is an indication.

Indeed, a good get pertaining to Jews in Mesopotamia, referring maybe to a keffiyeh or indeed to a turban or some other arrangement. Anything there about arabs?

Cloth apon the head, like a scull cap (I believe this is attested) and turbans (I believe they are attested) are depicted as are bare-headed soldiers (also attested), based on visual and written sources. Got a source for arabs wearing the keffiyeh in the EB period?

[yuezhi]

Yemeni tribesmen:



You wouldn't go out during a sand-storm, that would be stupid, so what would you need a protection for?

Wow their dress reminds me of sword and sandal era Hollywood.

Edit: minus the bullets taking the place of leather straps.

[Future Filmmaker]

Yemeni tribesmen:

That is one of the most BAMF pics ever.

[Moros]

The archers depicted above aren't bedouins and would avoid fighting in the deserts, especially sand dune deserts. They are Yeminites and live in a much more hospital habitat than the bedouins in the pictures.

[yuezhi]

Moros they are all wearing sandals at least right?

[Moros]

Also the units depicted above aren't even Arab.

Moros they are all wearing sandals at least right?

Flipflops yes.

This is one of our more northern units from the Arabian peninsula:

[Coldfire88]

You don't think they have rough sandstorms in Yemen? Then maybe use google to find out?

http://yementimes.com/en/1557/news/6...-residents.htm

Seriously. If you are not sure something, then don't use is as an argument.

Moreover, can you present any evidence of two armies clashing in a sandstorm, archers shooting their arrows in conditions of poor or zero visibility and in violent wind?

Moreover, that Bedouins cover themselves in cloths from tip to toe is undeniable, as is the fact that other people in Africa and Arabia, living in more or less arid zones do not cover themselves in cloths from tip to toe (vide my pictures). So what exactly is your point? That if Bedouins are completely covered, then EB tribes should be covered as well?

What I was trying to say:

The archers depicted above aren't bedouins and would avoid fighting in the deserts, especially sand dune deserts. They are Yeminites and live in a much more hospital habitat than the bedouins in the pictures.

Your news article of ONE storm proves what exactly? these things happen all over the middle east, I just ment less frequently and less violently than in arabia.

As for them being Yeminites, thanks for clearing it up, the OP title simply said "arab unit".

[wudang_clown]

Why do you twist your argumentation? Actually, this is what you were trying to say:

They could use improvement yes...a scarf around the face rather than the head to protect it (or both head and face) and they wouldnt leave the legs exposed to sand winds...

Then on my argument that there are people in Arabia (Yemen is still Arabia, that's Eudaimon Arabia/Arabia Felix, by the way) who don't use protection, so it means that the unit you were suggesting to improve (vide you own citation few lines above) is not incorrect and it doesn't need any improvement, you jumped out with Bedouins, who do not even live in Yemen.

[Coldfire88]

This is why I dont like to argue on the internet, why do you have to take it personal? did I attack you in some way??

and you DIDNT say the pic in the OP is of a yemeni unit, DID you? did the OP?

[wudang_clown]

Yeah, you're right. I was unnecessarily aggressive. I'm sorry.

[nein]

glad to see Becks is earning his 20 million