Kontos (weapon)

Contus Contus or more precisely is sarmaticus the Latin and the Greek name account for an extremely long Lanzenart, which was used by Roman and Byzantine cavalry. Contus lances were between three and five meters in length and were conducted both hands on horseback in combat.

The Contus Lance was an invention of the Iranian Sarmatians and Parthians, and was acquired in late antiquity, together with the principle of Kataphraktes by the Romans ( Byzantines and later ), which of these Lanzenart made ​​extensive use. Contustragende riders were called Contarii (or Greek Kontophoroi ).

The first special units of Contarii appeared in Trajan in 100 AD against. The Contarii it can be both heavily armored cataphracti, Clibanarii and to lightly armored horsemen.

The typical image of a ( lightly armored ) Contarius show the representations of Saint George, in Roman uniform on horseback with a long lance with both hands Contus a dragon is usually shown stabbing.