The colour of ancient oxen...

philbagnall · Post by **philbagnall** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:03 pm

A good friend of mine has asked me to paint a number of Chariot minis ox-carts for his Sea People army. The great thing is that the carts themselves are rough wood, and the crew are basic Peleset figures. But is there any information about the colour of the oxen - are they simply brown or might some/all have the varied colour patches seen on cow-hide shields? The WRG book (AANE) is silent on this - anyone have any thoughts on this serious dilemma for my painting scheme?

Thanks
Phil

Skullzgrinda · Post by **Skullzgrinda** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:27 pm

My suggestion is to simply use Egyptian wall paintings as well as the depictions of the oxhides covering shields.

Mainly you are looking at a reddish brown and cream spots or mottling, sometimes with a very dark, nearly black instead of reddish brown.

Look at Egyptian wall frescoes and it is all there. The more difficult task is to get the right casting. Leaner, rangier and with longer horns than say some medieval bullock.

Also look at the Minoan bull dancer frescoes. Perhaps one of those luscious looking female bull dancers would make make a great command stand or camp for a Minoan army . . .

Would that be worth the burden of all those defensive spear?

I think it might.

Esbenmf · Post by **Esbenmf** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:28 pm

Ancient oxen :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knossos_bull.jpg

Esben

spikemesq · Post by **spikemesq** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:05 pm

Wikipedia - is there anything that it cannot do?

Spike

Esbenmf · Post by **Esbenmf** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:15 pm

Subsurface spot welding. Haven't seen that yet.

Esben

pylum2 · Post by **pylum2** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:46 pm

Its never come over and done the dinner dishes,either.

Strategos69 · Post by **Strategos69** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:40 am

pylum2 wrote:Its never come over and done the dinner dishes,either.

... although they are working on it!