Did Tamil kings/soldiers use shield ?
  • Did Tamil kings/soldiers use shield ? I don't remember seeing any
    pictures with shield and sword. Probably this was used only later ?

    I have seen the movies, pictures and references to shields in Romans kings.

    Can somebody please throw light on when was first time it is used in
    the world/India ?
  • This calls for a thorough list of all weapons used by tamils
    vijay must have a list.
    bows, arrows, swords, were there for sure.

    perhaps we should visit madras museum. i remember seeing a full set
    of all weapons displayed.

    venketesh
  • Hi,


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckler

    Page No . 130 from Tamils 1800 years ago by V.Kanakasabai, refers to Bucklers made of Ox-Hide carried by soldiers.
  • And references from sangam and post sangam literature. Common sense
    solution is - some form of protection was adopted from the early days of
    war and shield is the basic protection. It is difficult to think of
    anything simpler.
    Sampath
  • > >
    > > Did Tamil kings/soldiers use shield ? I don't remember seeing any
    > > pictures with shield and sword. Probably this was used only later ?
    > >
    > > I have seen the movies, pictures and references to shields in
    > Romans kings.
    > >
    > > Can somebody please throw light on when was first time it is used
    in
    > > the world/India ?
    > >
    > > Regards
    > > Thiru
    > >
    >

    HI thiru

    when you mean tamil kings, is too generic and a big time span.of
    course we used diff kind of weapons. which period are you referrring to
  • >
    > HI thiru
    >
    > when you mean tamil kings, is too generic and a big time span.of
    > course we used diff kind of weapons. which period are you referrring to
    >
    > rgds
    > vj
    >

    On or before medieval cholas. Preferably our RRC times.
  • > >
    >
    > On or before medieval cholas. Preferably our RRC times.
    >
    dear thiru

    one of my very first works was on a thread called is the koil ther a
    siege machine or a war tower. while i was reading on that i came
    across some very interesting references


    you can read lot of this...incl the paavai vilakku, flame throwing
    contracptions etc which were roman contirbutions

    http://tamilartsacademy.com/books/roman karur/chapter15.html


    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    Foreign Influence in
    Ancient India
    R. A. JAIBAZBHOY

    Finally, from the early literature of the Tamils we obtain a vivid
    picture of the position and activities of the foreign traders. A
    Tamil poet relates that the large beautiful ships of the Yavanas
    bring gold to the thriving town of Muchiri (Muziris) and return
    laden with pepper. Poems** describe the abodes of the prosperous
    Yavanas at the mouth of the Kaveri river, of Yavana mercenaries
    who guarded the gates of the fort of Madura and of the Tamil
    king's tent on a battlefield, and of Yavana craftsmen who made
    siege engines. Among the skilled artisans who built the palace of
    the Cola king in the city of Kavirippattinam (which included
    craftsmen from Magadha, mechanics from Maradam and smiths
    from Avanti) there were carpenters from Yavana. Another poem
    speaks of "statues of metal made by the Yavanas" holding lamps
    which lit a royal palace
    (Le., dipalaksmis of a western type). With
    this notice of Yavana merchants engaged in building siege engines
    and palaces and some of their furnishings for Tamil kings we will
    turn now to the last aspect of this chapter.

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Incidentally the entire book (KAN's southindian influences in the
    far east is available for download in this site)

    http://www.ifih.org/SouthIndianInfluencesintheFarEast.htm
  • Added the reference "South Indian Influences in the Far East by K. A.
    Nilakanta Sastri" here

    http://www.ponniyinselvan.in/articles-f6/south-indian-influences-in-the-far-east-by-k-a-nilakanta-sastri-t26541.html?sd=d

    The site http://www.ifih.org is also a good initiative.

    Thanks again Vijay.
  • >
    > HI thiru
    >
    > when you mean tamil kings, is too generic and a big time span.of
    > course we used diff kind of weapons. which period are you
    referrring to
    >

    Hi Vijay

    when you talk about period do you sincerely feel there was any
    difference or development from mastering of steel forging to atha
    advent of the gun.

    lets narrow it from kalabrar demise to advent of vijaynagar.

    i have been watching a series on warfare in ancient civilisations on
    history channel

    the chinese have such a simple repeater bow. shot some 6 arrows a
    minute on a lever system.faboulous creativity

    sometimes i used to wonder if one man with a machine gun in the 10th
    century could have conquered the entire word?

    venketesh
  • >
    > sometimes i used to wonder if one man with a machine gun in the 10th
    > century could have conquered the entire word?
    >
    > venketesh
    >

    Like in movie "Rambo" ?

    I doubt, if you have seen the Beach battle in Saving Private Ryan, it
    is obvious that the first battalion is going to die, still they kept
    coming and finally able to capture. Hope this is a right example.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy.
  • it
    > is obvious that the first battalion is going to die, still they kept
    > coming and finally able to capture. Hope this is a right example.




    remarkable aint it?so many beleived in a cause. right or wrong the
    beleif for which they paid with their lives is remarkable.
    but then there was a beleif in the army that whenever a bullet was
    made a name of the person it was going to kill was on it.

    some body said " i am really afraid of the bullet which says 'to
    whosoever it concerns'

    venketesh



    >
    > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy.
    >
  • -
    > remarkable aint it?so many beleived in a cause. right or wrong the
    > beleif for which they paid with their lives is remarkable.
    > but then there was a beleif in the army that whenever a bullet was
    > made a name of the person it was going to kill was on it.
    >
    > some body said " i am really afraid of the bullet which says 'to
    > whosoever it concerns'
    >
    > venketesh
    >
    =============================>

    LIKE WE SAY. YOUR NAME SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN THE BRICK ..TO OCCUPY THE
    HOME ! Likhnewale.. !

    sps
  • >
    > i have been watching a series on warfare in ancient civilisations on
    > history channel
    >
    > the chinese have such a simple repeater bow. shot some 6 arrows a
    > minute on a lever system.faboulous creativity
    >
    > sometimes i used to wonder if one man with a machine gun in the 10th
    > century could have conquered the entire word?
    >
    > venketesh
    >
    Hi venktesh

    Halebid temple has some interesting battle scene sculptures. one is
    very unique, i have added in our photos section ( its a normal bow but
    you can count more than 6 arrows - maybe the sculpture wanted to
    depict rapid release but then the positioning of the arrows is not
    clear)

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