The panoply of the armoured personage from the capital from Bisotun. Remarks on the spread of the military technology along the Silk Road

A new typological analysis of the armour depicted on the Bisotun capital reveals its distinct characteristics and historical origins, linking it to military technology along the Silk Road. The helmet is classified as lamellar/laminar with ornate incised edges and a central nasal splint, closely resembling Tang Dynasty Chinese helmets rather than earlier Kushan or Eurasian types. The cuirass, made of riveted metallic stripes with a vertical frontal stripe, traces its lineage to Parthian predecessors and Sasanian armours, showing direct connections to Korean, Japanese, and Xinjiang armour traditions from the 3rd to 4th centuries. This study clarifies the historical context and spread of this military technology, bridging gaps in existing typological frameworks.

(Ed.). (2022). The panoply of the armoured personage from the capital from Bisotun. Remarks on the spread of the military technology along the Silk Road. Acta Archaeologica Lodziensia, 68. https://doi.org/10.26485/aal/2022/68/12