RomanArmyTalk

I'd just like to share this piece of art that I found on the internet. Not sure who the artist is, but I believe he might be Polish. Its an impression of soldiers during Trajan's Dacian Wars.

Yes, they are wonderful paintings. There's a collection of them here (just scroll down the page).

I did once see the artist's name mentioned, but it isn't given on this site or any other I can find now. I'm sure somebody must know, and whether he's produced more.

I particularly like this one: Ala Noricum, 90AD:

Yeah, they are great images! One I like is the one 'Defending the Eagle'

Angus McBride?

Nop, that's not his sign.

The artist is definitely eastern European, as Paul says. I remember the name as possibly Russian or Polish. I'm surprised he isn't better known though! The paintings appear to date from the mid 90s, so he must have done more work since.

There's a good selection here on this site -

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=...en&ie=UTF8

I think the link is not working properly though!

Click on the main link then go to galleries and then look for his name . . .

His name is given as Zubkov AN but there is no biog.

The artist seems to be called Nikolas (or Nicolas) Zubkov (or Zoubkoff). Can't find any more work by him though.

I love this one too, but its such a pity the legionary wears his sword on the wrong side!

Quote:I love this one too, but its such a pity the legionary wears his sword on the wrong side!

Even for the 3rd century? When did it change?

Sorry but he wears it on the RIGHT side.

M.VIB.M.

Maybe he was left handed? How about the idea that the roman soldier moved the sword from right side to the left for pragmatist reasons only? I mean when they adopted the longer spatha it was no longer easy to draw it when your sword-hand was on the same side?

Quote: Maybe he was left handed?

That should not matter Jyrki. Every soldiers used his right hand for the weapon - in a shield wall, you always cover the man on your left with your shield, as you are covered by the man to your right. If the man beside you would have his shield on the right, there would be a gap between you, or two shields covering the same space.

Quote:How about the idea that the roman soldier moved the sword from right side to the left for pragmatist reasons only? I mean when they adopted the longer spatha it was no longer easy to draw it when your sword-hand was on the same side?

I believe that was the theory - wasn't the spatha always on the left side of the cavalryman?

Oh yes, Robert! It is too obvious... :oops:

In the early-mid 2nd c slide mounted shortswords were still worn on the right. From 200 onwards grave stelae show all swords on the left all of the time (even centurions and decurions). Did earlier cavalrymen routinely carry the spatha on the left, in the principate?

No-one knows when the swap occured, my own guess is when spatha were adopted wholescale in the mid-2nd c.