Monday, September 24, 2012

Spartan Gold: Dosemealti asnd more

pg 318

"The rug. It's a Dosemealti- they're woven by Yoruk nomads."
The Yörüks, also Yuruks or Yorouks (Turkish: Yörük, Greek: Γιουρούκοι, Bulgarian: юруци, Macedonian: Јуруци) are a Turkish group of people[1],some of whom are still nomadic, primarily inhabiting the mountains of Anatolia and partly Balkan peninsula. Their name derives from the Turkish verb yürü- (yürümek in infinitive), which means "to walk", with the word yorouk or Yuruk designating "those who walk, walkers

Dosemealti is a region in Turkey, according to Wikipedia.

CarpetView has an article on the rugs:
Dosemealti nomad rugs (or also known as Dosemealti Village rugs or Tribal carpets) are renowned for their thick pile, powerful images, and rich colours. These nomad rugs are hand-knotted by the semi-nomadic tribes in the Antalya region of Turkey. These people live on the Mediterranean Coast in the valleys of the Taurus Mountains where the climate can turn cold.
This means they have learned to create Dosemealti rugs that can withstand the cold temperatures and help keep them warm. These tribal carpets are placed on the floors and walls of their homes to keep out the cold and give them warmth and comfort. There are 23 villages located in the mountains and there are two tribes, the Karakoyunlu and Sarikecili nomadic tribes, that create the incredible Dosemealti rugs.
The thick piles of the Dosemealti nomad rugs are made from wool and are dyed with natural plant-based dyes. Rugs made from hand-spun wool are of the best quality and in the region of the Taurus Mountains men spin wool right alongside the women, something that is unheard of in other regions of Turkey. Dosemealti rugs can contain up to 200,000 to 300,000 knots per square meter and they are made in various sizes and shapes, such as large area rugs, small area rugs, prayer rugs, and runner rugs.
 "Here's something called a gerron. Used by Persian troops."
These poorly trained, levy infantry are supplied by the great nobles (Azads) from their estates in the more settled regions of the Persian Empire. They are armed with an infantry spear and brown, leather-covered, wicker shield, a smaller version of the old spara (gerron) of imperial days, and a short sword or axe. Their primary order of battle would consist of spearmen fighting in ordered ranks. Groups of spearmen such as these are trained to form rows across and files deep and to march in step. Grouping together bolsters morale and the shield wall helps to neutralize arrows. However, the oft-repeated myth of 'roped or chained' Persian troops is an invention of literature. The Arabic term 'silsilah' is very likely a poetic device meant to imply soldiers organized into close order units. The same term is used to refer to both Sassanid Persian and Byzantine cavalry, neither of which could have conceivably been physically tied together in groups! 
 "An akinakes...carried by Persian Immortals of the Achaemenid Dynasty
The "Immortals" (from the Greek Ἀθάνατοι, sometimes "Ten Thousand Immortals" or "Persian Immortals") was the name given by Herodotus to an elite force of soldiers who fought for the Achaemenid Empire. This force performed the dual roles of both Imperial Guard and standing army during the Persian Empire's expansion and during the Greco-Persian Wars. Its Persian name may have been Anûšiya ('companions').
Herodotus describes the 'Immortals' as being heavy infantry led by Hydarnes that were kept constantly at a strength of exactly 10,000 men. He claimed that the unit's name stemmed from the custom that every killed, seriously wounded or sick member was immediately replaced with a new one, maintaining the cohesion of the unit.
This elite corps is only called the 'Immortals' in sources based on Herodotus. While there is evidence for them from Persia, this does not mention this name for them."Probably, Herodotus' informant has confused the name Anûšiya ('companions') with Anauša ('Immortals').

The acinaces, also spelled akinakes (Greek ἀκινάκης) or akinaka (unattested Old Persian *akīnakah) is a type of dagger or short sword used mainly in the first millennium BC in the eastern Mediterranean region, especially by the Medes, Scythians and Persians, then by the Greeks.
The acinaces is of Scythian origin, but was made famous by the Persians, and rapidly spread throughout the ancient world. Its influence can even be seen in the design of Chinese weapons such as the jinglu sword.The Romans believed this weapon originated with the Medes.
The acinaces is typically 35–45 cm. (14-18 in.) in length and double-edged, and although there is no universal design, the guard may be lobed with the hilt resembling that of a bollock dagger, or the pommel may be splitor of the "antenna" type. Interestingly, the scabbard as much as anything else defines the acinaces and usually has a large decorative mount near the opening allowing it to be suspended from a belt on the wearer's right side.
Since the acinaces seems to have been a thrusting weapon, and since it was typically worn on the right, it was likely intended to be suddenly drawn with the blade facing down for surprise stabbing attacks.


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