Why does the guy on the left have a full condom tied to his spear?
You got me curious, so I managed to find the source text:
- Ottoman-Balkan Yaya, early 15th century.
Many Ottoman infantrymen were of Christian origin and this seems to have been reflected in their equipment. This man wears an Italian-style reinforced ‘jacket’ over eastern dress. His feathered javelin with its bag of incendiary material was used against siege-engines, ships, wooden defences or simply to terrify the foe.
- Turkish Sipahi, c.1400.
Feudal cavalry were the backbone of medieval Ottoman armies. This man wears a ‘turban’ helmet and wields the mace favoured by many Muslim warriors. The opening of his highly decorated mail-and-plate armour is protected by an additional chest-covering medallion, and his horse’s lamellar bard has a cloth covering.
- Ottoman infantry, early 15th century.
This man is clearly one of the Sultan’s élite. He wears full infantry armour of mail-and-splints, probably designed for siege-warfare. Even his engraved iron shield could resist primitive firearms. His sword is slung from his shoulder, a style only used by foot soldiers.
I still want to believe in the condom!
