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Illustrations on Folio 6r in a
Byzantine Manuscript of the Iliad, 10th century.
BNM Mss. Gr.Z.454.


A larger image of Folio 6r. Byzantine Manuscript of the Iliad, 10th century. BNM Mss. Gr.Z.454. Marcian Library in Venice.

BNM Mss. Gr.Z.454. Iliad (Venetus A) c.900-1000AD
Marcian Library in Venice

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The cavalryman is referenced as figure 210 in The military technology of classical Islam by D Nicolle
210. Manuscript, Iliad, 10th century AD, Byzantine, Bib. Nat. Ms. Gr. 454, Paris.
Vol. 2 p.364,     Muslim troops themselves may well be portrayed in some Byzantine art of the period. On a minor lever stylized turbans are shown worn by lance-armed cavalrymen in long scale hauberks (Fig. 210). Elsewhere the archetypal "enemy" Goliath appears, most unusually, as a heavily armoured cavalryman (Fig. 209). In this latter source the Philistine cuirasses are slightly different from those of the Israelites, and could indicate lamellar. For the first representation of mid-10th century warriors along the Taurus frontier, one must return to the unique frescoes of the "Dovecote" church at Cavuṣin in Cappadocia. Here the Forty Martyrs are shown in a great variety of costumes and armours (Fig. 213A). some of which clearly show strong Muslim influence. In fact, this fresco probably portrays a spectrum of military styles from both sides of the frontier, and scale, leather, mail and perhaps felt armour can all be seen.