Originally Posted by
Hirtius
Thanks Trarco! That makes sense. If this is the vase (crátera de la monomaquia de Libisosa) you are talking about (<a href="https://imgur.com/a/FeJVIph" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/a/FeJVIph</a>), I really think it looks like just a stylized linothorax. The picture is a bit grainy, but I found a close up (<a href="https://imgur.com/a/deBcr8w" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/a/deBcr8w</a>) and it looks like it has pteryges. Here is the other one (<a href="https://imgur.com/caf1VEv" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/caf1VEv</a>).
I am referring to the vase of Llíria:
Regarding the vase of Libisosa, the armour depicted may be a linothorax as you say, but it may also represent another type of traditional Iberian protection. I am referring to this one:
Originally Posted by
Hirtius
This is not the only vase, here is another that might show pteryges (<a href="https://imgur.com/yHrxaaQ" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/yHrxaaQ</a>).
Originally Posted by
Hirtius
It also appears that even some armors that are impossible to decipher often have something extending down in front of the legs (<a href="https://imgur.com/lezidtb" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/lezidtb</a>), including everyone's favorite (<a href="https://imgur.com/5mgRvH3" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/5mgRvH3</a>). Even if you don't change it to look more like the iconic linothorax shape, it seems that many armors of the had something that could resemble or function as pteryges.
Undoubtedly, Iberian armours had pteryges. Some of the planned revamped Iberian units will have this element.
Originally Posted by
Rad
Interesting. This implies that Mediterranean powers preferred that Iberians function as swordsmen, right?
The real panoply was a heavy javelin, a thrusting spear and a sword but the engine doesn't allow us to use this combination. That said, this unit uses some of the most important elements that were transferred between Carthaginians, Celtiberians and Romans since the Second Punic War: oval shield, Montefortino helmet, Celtiberian La Tene sword (prototype of the gladius hispaniensis) and Celtiberian Bidiscoidal dagger (prototype of the Roman pugio). So, to answer your question, the Mediterranean influences did favour the use of foreign swords among the Iberians as it is shown in some late sculptures, that said, the spear was always a very fundamental weapon as is attested by the existence of Iberian spearheads of many types that can be dated in a Roman period.