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+--- Thread: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) (/showthread.php?tid=14201)
Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Steakslim - 12-14-2008
First of all I apoligize if this is in the wrong place and if this has been asked before. My question is would it be possible for a woman to disguise herself, join (For whatever reason) and serve in the legions as a fighter?
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Steakslim - 12-14-2008
12 views 0 Replies God I hate you people
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Matthew Amt - 12-14-2008
Well, in the Principate I understand that recruitment started with a physical examination by a doctor. Granted, medical technology wasn't quite what we have today, but I'm guessing most doctors could tell a girl from a boy.
If she gets past that, first day after training, everyone hits the bathhouse. Naked. "There's something different about that new kid, can't quite put my finger on it, hmmm...."
Given that, it's no wonder the accounts of women fighting in the Roman army disguised as men are so few! Sorry about that!
Matthew
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Steakslim - 12-14-2008
Okay well what about the army of the Dominate?
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - John Conyard - 12-15-2008
The same applies I fear.
But Equal Opportunities legistlation certainly demands that women, well disguised as men, be allowed to take part in our public events.
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Marcus F. - 12-15-2008
I guess only absolutely crazy women would have had the wish to join the Roman army.
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - M. Demetrius - 12-15-2008
IMHO, there is no possible way that a woman could disguise herself as a man in the tight confines of a 9' x 9' tent environment, and the public latrines, etc. Just wouldn't happen.
This has, of course, been discussed a number of times already.
In the modern reenactment world, some groups allow women to participate if they do the best they can at disguising themselves as men, some do not. It seems the majority of women don't want to kit up in 40 pounds of steel and wood and walk around in the sunny summer, and cold winter. Go figger. My speculation on that is that they're simply smarter than we.
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Sean Manning - 12-15-2008
Quote:First of all I apoligize if this is in the wrong place and if this has been asked before. My question is would it be possible for a woman to disguise herself, join (For whatever reason) and serve in the legions as a fighter?I think that the baths would pose a problem by the Imperial period, and so would have any physical examination of recruits. I'm sure it happened at least once, especially during periods of disorder, but I'm sure that a legionary was struck by lighting at least once too!
There are a few recorded cases of women joining 18th century armies, and we only know about them because our sources are so much better then. We wouldn't know about Mary Read if she hadn't become a particularly notorious pirate after two stints in the army! However, eighteenth-century Europeans had more of a male nudity taboo than Romans of the principate did.
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Steakslim - 12-15-2008
Demtrius the seg only weighs around ten pounds
Dang! I could have an excellent book :evil: So your sure it wouldn't have happened during late roman times I mean whats one more goth who doesn't bathe?
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Robert Vermaat - 12-15-2008
Quote: :evil: So your sure it wouldn't have happened during late roman times I mean whats one more goth who doesn't bathe?
Only in Hollywood I suppose. :twisted:
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Steakslim - 12-15-2008
Could she have posed as a goth?
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - caiusbeerquitius - 12-15-2008
What? Like this?
![[Image: 9544GothFairy.jpg]](http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/9544GothFairy.jpg)
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - caiusbeerquitius - 12-15-2008
...
or more like this?
![[Image: MsGothIndexPic.jpg]](http://mistressgoth.bizhat.com/MsGothIndexPic.jpg)
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Steakslim - 12-15-2008
Your a mod and your trolling
Re: Women in the roman army? (Combatants) - Medusa Gladiatrix - 12-15-2008
We had discussed the topic of women in the Roman army in this topic:
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=20426
We came to the conclusion that there weren't any female legionaries, so far no traces of this have been found. The only fighting women in the Roman world of which we have proof where gladiatrices.