zems online drawn by deiv_calviz

Artist's commentary

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    Zems - Alpha Strikes

    Zems is accepting sign-ups for the next Zems Alpha now! Visit zems.com to get on the list!

    Second work for Zems! This was a tough one because of the horses... whew!

    Zems in an upcoming free online trading card game, based in fantasy world of Collossals and mythical creatures, with many game elements inspired by real-time strategy, board and virtually all the popular card games.

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    An illustration done for Zems Online Card Game.
    Alpha Strikes copyright 2015 by Impulse Limited.
    For more info on Zems, please visit the links below:
    Zems Official website - www.zems.com 
    Zems Facebook page
    Zems Twitter page

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    Jonicu
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    This picture is historically inaccurate. Judging from their helmets and armors (loricae squamatae), these Roman cavalry are of the 1st to 2nd century AD (cf. pp. 17-20 and 24 of Simkins). On the other hand, according to several sources, iron stirrups, which are thought to have been invented in China or Central Asia, weren't introduced to the West until at least the late 6th century AD, and thus ancient Romans never used them (see p. 130 of Penn et al., Hemming, Arndt, etc.). In addition, Roman cavalry didn't use gladii as depicted in the picture. They in reality used spathae (sword double-edged like gladius but longer and narrower) instead (see p. 22 of Simkins).

    References
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    Asqo
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    lyagushka said:

    ...In addition, Roman cavalry didn't use gladii as depicted in the picture. They in reality used spathae (sword double-edged like gladius but longer and narrower) instead (see p. 22 of Simkins)...

    Yup, using a short, infantry gladius from a horse's back would be quite troublesome. That's why cavalry swords are longer: to reach farther.

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