The Depiction of Byzantine Military Equipment in Kappadokian Murals

Some of the most interesting depictions of Byzantine military equipment dated to the mid 10th century AD, are in the "Dovecote" church in Cavusin, carved into the side of a cliff, with the entrance high off the ground. 

One of the greatest difficulties in understanding or reconstructing Byzantine military equipment - arms and armour - is the scarcity of  reliable information. The archaeological record contains very few examples, and contemporary illustrations are often untrustworthy due to the "classicising" tendency of Byzantine art - representing equipment which has long since ceased to be in  use. This tendency was most pronounced in the major metropolitan centres, and particularly in Constantinople, where a multitude of classical models was available to the copyist. It is fortunate that the rock-carved churches of  Kappadokia, isolated from mainstream Byzantine art, form such a major exception to this tendency.

Kappadokia, in what is now Central Turkey, was far from the capital and its classicising influences, and it is likely that artists painted what they saw in use when showing military equipment, rather than rely on illustrations centuries out of date. The soft rock available in the Goreme valley made it possible to carve extensive habitations, and the landscape is dotted with countless rock-carved churches, monasteries and villages. The murals of the Goreme valley show some of the finest examples of regional Byzantine art.

The "Dovecote" Church

In 1992 I visited Turkey, and having read and seen descriptions of the warriors in the Goreme Valley murals in Nicolle's book Arms and Armour of the Crusading Period, I went to Kappadokia specifically to see them. I took many photos of them; I've only just had the opportunity to put them on the Net.

The Military Saints

The "Hidden" Church

Concealed in a cave on the reverse side of a cliff, this church contains murals of military saints, and one rather rare one of a soldier in a mail-shirt.

I would like to acknowledge the help of Raffaele d'Amato in Italy who, having expressed interest in the photographs I'd taken of the Goreme valley murals, not only scanned them for me but sent me a copy at his own expense of Jerphanion's definitive two-volume text on the subject. His assistance and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated.

References: 1. de Jephanion, G. Les Eglises Rupestres de Cappadoce Librarie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner. Paris,1932

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