The first battle

[Iceman1964]

Let’s start a new diorama, back at the very beginning of history.

The first battle described in its details is Kadesh, between Egyptians and Hittites, in 1274 B.C. , even if we know only the Ramses propaganda, not the Hittites side

But long time before another battle has been recorded in the stone for the first time, about 2450 B.C. : the Stele of Vultures describes the victory of the Sumerian city of Lagash over the nearby city of Umma (same Sumerian culture) following border disputes: the two cities were just 25 km one from the other.
The Lagash phalanx smashed the Umma’s army, and the vultures banqueted with Umma’s casualties (tha’s the name of the stele).



My diorama will show the first phase of the battle, with the Umma’s light infantry and chariot trying to harass the static Lagash phalanx.
The plastic soldiers are Hat (not much choice for this period, hoping maybe something new from Linear-A).
Here are the first painted figures, rear rank of the Lagash phalanx.

[sberry]

A very interesting project on a neglected period - I am very curious to see the fnished scene!

[MABO]

A very interesting project on a neglected period - I am very curious to see the fnished scene!

Exactly my thought as well. I will follow this with great interest. Since I play DBA, I am thinking about the creation of a Sumerian army. Did you already notice the cool project from dykio?

http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23457&p=270707#p270707

[Santi Pérez]

A very interesting project on a neglected period - I am very curious to see the fnished scene!

I will follow it with great interest too, Iceman1964, I love Ancient history.

Santi.

[Peter]

Like the others I will follow this project with great interest, Enrico! Looking forward to your next post!

[Chariobaude]

An another great project on benno's !! like the others before me, i will follow that project with great interest...

i always wanted to start a (very ) ancient army, but my knowledge on that timeframe is so light, and there is not so many sets to use...

[Iceman1964]

Thank you guys for your nice words !
Yes Mabo, I saw Dykio project, a "neglected" period is covered by two work in progress...
It's Sumerian year
I agree with Chariobaude that "extra-ancient" period is not so covered.
Obviously I understand a Napoleonic uniform is more actractive with all epaulette and shakos than a simple sheep skin and a bronze spear, but for example I like the freedom (at least partial) to use different colours without going crazy to check if that regiment has light or light-medium blue

I see Linear-A is going to work a lot on ancient period, let's hope

[Graeme]

The very birth of military history.

Very nice job on a very cool set of figures, I also want to see more of this.

[Konrad]

I like ancient themes,too.
Go on with your work,Iceman.

[Iceman1964]

The Lagash phalanx is slowly growing.



Once completed the rear and mid rank, I’ll have to work with the front rank, the “shield wall”…
I have doubts about the shield color, the stele of the vultures is obviously unpainted, I have seen some picture, I would not like a simple wood paint, but something more vivid, what about the blue reported here below ? Other suggestions ?

[Peter]

Real nice painted figures!

That color, greenblue, looks excellent to me.

[sberry]

Most examples of Hittite art that I have seen so far seem to be unpainted stone, like stelae etc. Not very helpful.

But the few more colorful objects that can be found, like painted vases and ceramic statuettes, seem to have a strong focus on the three colors white, red, black. What about white shields?

[Iceman1964]

I would like to have on shields a colour different from the ones already present on the figures, and as you can see white is already largely used for sheep fur.
I understand there is no hystorical data for Sumerian shields, so I think I'll try different colours (greenblue, red, black) and see which is the best as visual effect...
I'll show you the result of the tests.

[Chariobaude]

very nice phalanx Iceman, i'm waiting for more !

[Iceman1964]

Here are the tests for the shield colour, blue, red and leather....

[wilberforcefrog]

Sumerians are such a fascinating era. For me I like either the red or leather shield color.

[Peter]

I like all three of them. But I think you have to see them with the figure completely painted.

[MABO]

I also like all of them, but I have no idea, what was a possible colour at that time...?

[Santi Pérez]

Here are the tests for the shield colour, blue, red and leather....

Thought all three colours look very good, my vote goes for the blue one (not for nothing is it my favorite colour).

Great progress in your project, Iceman1964.

Santi.

[Iceman1964]

Here is the Lagash phalanx, with the shield's wall protecting the rear ranks. At the end I went with blue shields, the last decision was by my wife, how can go against her ?







and now let's go with Umma warriors