Warriors with shoulder tufts

[Druzhina]

Supposedly the only Byzantine illustration of shoulder tufts mentioned in Leo VI's Tactica is Digenis (Diogenes) Akritas fights the dragon, 12th century plate

Other depictions of Diogenes Akritas: Digenis Akritas slays the dragon with five arrows & Digenis Akritas saves a princess abandoned in the desert

Shoulder tufts are also worn by warriors on the Orlat Battle Plaque, early Sarmation {Kangju (K'ang-kiu) or Yuezhi} or Hun {Tashtyk, "White Huns" - the Hephthalites}
Shoulder tufts are also worn by the Sogdian ruler, on a Mortuary Couch, Northern Qi dynasty, A.D. 550-577

Are there other ancient depictions of warriors with shoulder tufts? I can't remember if I have seen them on Chinese soldiers.

MIRROR SITES
Orlat Battle Plaque, early Sarmation {Kangju (K'ang-kiu) or Yuezhi} or Hun {Tashtyk, "White Huns" - the Hephthalites}
Digenis (Diogenes) Akritas fights the dragon

Druzhina
Byzantine Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[Druzhina]

Sasanian illustrations with possible shoulder tufts:
Shapur with shoulder tufts in the centre scene of Sassanid Rock Relief at Firuzabad in 224 AD
A Sassanid Cameo of Shapur I vanquishing Emperor Valerian, 260 AD
Cup of Khusrau I, Detail of King, Sassanid, 6th century
A Sassanid Oval Bowl with Enthronement Scene, 7th Century AD

Mirror Site
Shapur with shoulder tufts in the centre scene of Sassanid Rock Relief at Firuzabad in 224 AD
A Sassanid Cameo of Shapur I vanquishing Emperor Valerian, 260 AD
Cup of Khusrau I, Detail of King, Sassanid, 6th century
A Sassanid Oval Bowl with Enthronement Scene, 7th Century AD

Druzhina
Persian Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[Temüjin]

might be worthwhile checking out the contemporary art of Afghanistan, like Kushans, Ephtalites etc. i could imagine they had that too, due to the similarity in art styles.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

I wonder what purpose or function those shoulder pieces had.

[Temüjin]

i think it's purely decorative. on some pieces it looks exactly like what is worn on the helmet too.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Yeah seems to be so.

[Druzhina]

Sept 17, 2015 14:30:48 GMT 3 Temüjin said:

might be worthwhile checking out the contemporary art of Afghanistan, like Kushans, Ephtalites etc. i could imagine they had that too, due to the similarity in art styles.

There are some coins of Khingila, Alchon Huns, (Hepthalite dynasty), 5th century AD, with fly-whisk shoulder tufts. The clearest images are Khingila silver drachm, Alchon Hun, Göbl 61 and Khingila silver drachm, Alchon Hun, a variant of Göbl 70

Mirror Site
coins of Khingila, Alchon Huns, (Hepthalite dynasty), 5th century AD, with fly-whisk shoulder tufts.

Druzhina
Ancient Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers