Edited by Stephen Francis Wyley |
These are just some of my conclusions based on the data collated so far, they are bound to change as the project continues.
- The Romans were into wall tents because they fitted better into their rectangular castra (fortified encampments) (Trajan's Column);
- The Dark ages saw the emergence of the wedge tent (The Oseberg Viking Ship) and the cone tent (The Utrecht Psalter);
- The 11th century saw the emergence of the bell tent (The Birdcatcher, from pseudo-Oppian, Kynegetica);
- Only a few manuscripts show seperate walls (11th century A.D. (Homilies of Gregory of Nazianzos), 1100-1197 A.D. (Chronicles of Petrus de Eboli), and 1460 A.D. (An Army breaking camp’ by Giovanni Bettini);
- So far the first yurt appears in the early 13th century (1225-1235 A.D. (Assemblies (Maqâmât) of al Harîrî).
- In 1250 A.D. the Maciejowsky Bible shows the emergence of the pavilion with it’s three poled tent showing Saul on his death bed;
- With the Mongol invasions whole new concepts in tent design makes the scene (The Encampment of Jenghis Khan, Mongol Court);
- In the 14th century, the “dormer” window appears in some of the roofs of the larger bell tent (Chroniques de Froissart, Jousts of Sant Ingilbert );
- By the 15th century more and more pavilions are showing up (Avis Directif pour faire la passage d’Outremer);
- In the mid 16th century (Boulogne 1544 A.D.) the range and size of the tents varied immensely;
- that there is no evidence so far that would support the theory of the "Wagon Wheel" internal support structure inside a bell tent. The shapes obtained are simply the product of the cut and tension of the fabric aided by the pole, the guy ropes and the pegs. 1.
- that any art work must be taken with a pinch of salt, nothing can be taken literally because it all depends on the artist's interpretation, style and intent.
Copyright © Stephen Francis Wyley 1999 - 2004
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