08-24-2021, 07:09 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-24-2021, 08:22 PM by CaesarAugustus.)
For the helmets we have a dedicated topic. Some helmets with a bit of silver say nothing about the cost of building standard helmets and comparing them to previous standard helmets. If you want, we can restart where we were, with a structural composition weaker in newer helmets and a general quality recognized as lower from archaeologists who studied the helmets. I am still in contact with the one who has studied them.
Same for the armor. It is a matter of fact that segmentata structure was more suitable to dissipate the impact of arrows. And is something we know that the Hamata used at Carrhae demonstrates its low utility in the theater. Probably, segmentata is coming from Seleucid experience against the same Parthians. Still remaining at Carrhae, Surenas had total faith that his arrows would penetrate Roman armour. Despite Romans had already faced similar threats, they were shocked from Surena's arrows/bows. Why a segmentata armor was not immediately adopted after Carrhae? Armies take time to adapt, especially changing a central piece of the panoply. We can see how long it took in the middle ages to go again from the mail to the plate. And, honestly we don't have a full picture, so it is difficult to say.
But, probably it is a matter of organization. Mail was logistically better, and for late republic legions it was difficult to have the logistic for a more stronger, but more complex armor. Something similar happened with siege/field weapons, fully developed with the golden age in the high empire, and progressively abandoned/reduced following the third century crisis.
Same for the armor. It is a matter of fact that segmentata structure was more suitable to dissipate the impact of arrows. And is something we know that the Hamata used at Carrhae demonstrates its low utility in the theater. Probably, segmentata is coming from Seleucid experience against the same Parthians. Still remaining at Carrhae, Surenas had total faith that his arrows would penetrate Roman armour. Despite Romans had already faced similar threats, they were shocked from Surena's arrows/bows. Why a segmentata armor was not immediately adopted after Carrhae? Armies take time to adapt, especially changing a central piece of the panoply. We can see how long it took in the middle ages to go again from the mail to the plate. And, honestly we don't have a full picture, so it is difficult to say.
But, probably it is a matter of organization. Mail was logistically better, and for late republic legions it was difficult to have the logistic for a more stronger, but more complex armor. Something similar happened with siege/field weapons, fully developed with the golden age in the high empire, and progressively abandoned/reduced following the third century crisis.
