Among the purchases last Quarter were a bag of Libyan Archers from Old Glory.
With the Egyptians and Cannaanites slated to see action on the tabletop at home next weekend, it seemed likea good time to paint them up!
These troops are depicted on ancient Egyptian paintings and Bas reliefs.
Alan Buttery, in "Armies and Enemies of Ancient Egypt and Assyria" (WRG), describes them as "tall and muscular, with a thick head of hair".
"They wore material bands crossing the chest..." "From a decorated belt hung a phallus sheath of leather, as well as protector for the hips and rear." Looks like the prototype of the "designer jockstrap" to me! :-)
I think my freind Brent had these guys in mind when he characterized Chariot era armies as "Hordes of nearly naked guys".
Here's the second unit of Libyans.
You can almost hear the "pointing guy" singing "Y - M - C - A..."
These somewhat more well dressed chaps wear "a long open garment, fastened at the shoulder, highly decorated, and with only one sleeve" over their loincloths.
Ostrich feathers were worn in their hair.
I used the Micron colored ink pens to draw crude designs on the fabric.
Good additions, Peter! Rather than drawing "crude designs on the fabric" I think your stylized and impressionistic approach fits the bill.
ReplyDeleteSay, in an Assyria vs Egyptian (Kushite or earlier) match up, could a Libyan contingent appear as allies to either side?
Your ethnographic illustration is enlightening.
Thanks, Jon! My guess would be that the dress of the Libyans didn't change that much over the period in question. They certainly might plausibly be used as Egyptian auxiliaries or allies, less so the Assyrians... not that that needs to stop us! :-)
DeleteOne, obviously these guys wouldn't be very useful in cold climates, where "unit shrinkage" takes on a whole new meaning. Two, did you find your "doctor handwriting" to come in helpful coming up with the impressionistic crude designs?
ReplyDeleteAnd anyone that goes into battle wearing nothing more than a jockstrap and a beach towel earns my respect.
1) "Shrinkage" - well, with a phallus sheath that comes down to your knees in many drawings, how would anyone tell? :-) Indeed, I think that was there main defensive tactic - the other guy is staring at this thing, saying to himself "No way, that CAN'T be real..) and gets cut down, LOL!
Delete2) My second grade teacher noted that my handwriting was so bad that I had to either become a doctor or run a Chinese Laundry. AS I didn't for the ethnic group for the later, well...
3) LOL!
Nice if somewhat immodest chaps
ReplyDeleteYep, talk about letting it all hang out... :-)
DeleteNice work on these Peter. It has been a slightly cooler winter's day here, and looking at these hasn't made me feel any warmer.
ReplyDeleteThey are rather well "ventilated", aren't they?
DeleteGreat post and fantastic minis eter, painting and basing are really nice!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil;!
DeleteThanks, Mark!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed painting them perhaps more than I should! :-)
Lovely painting, they are of course dynamic as most old glory figures are and it suits them!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Yes, the dynamic Old Glory sculpting works well with these figures!
DeleteInteresting stuff. The units turned out great. I like the last relief, it was my inspiration for the skin tones I am using for my Kushite Egyptians
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jake! It is a pretty well known reconstruction that is part symbolic and part realistic as far as skin tones are concerned.
DeleteNice work, and thanks also for the laughs! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aaron; glad you enjoyed both!
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