Sword moving from right to left

Sword moving from right to left - Printable Version

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Sword moving from right to left - Renatus - 04-11-2013

Quote:Well no, they are Egyptian, Philistine, and al the other bad guys from the bible, but that does not mean the artist did not model them after the Roman troops in Dura. The Jews had no inhibitions using Romans for their bad guys, see the vain attempts of Julian to mobilise the Babylonian Jews against the Persians, who however still hated the Romans for their destruction of Jerusalem and fought valiantly against his troops alongside the Persians.

Of course I was not suggesting that they might actually be Roman. I'll rephrase my question: 'But are they even modelled on Romans?' The problem with your argument is that, as they are guarding the Ark of the Covenant, they are the good guys.

Sword moving from right to left - Paul Elliott - 04-11-2013

I'm always hesitant to use the mythological or Biblical scenes as evidence since within the Empire they seem to harken back to some classical Golden Age, and at a place like Dura they may be showing Palmyrene soldiers who were garrisoned there, or the equipment of Persian soldiers known to the inhabitants, or be a mish mash or Roman equipment intended to look different and exotic (ie. not like Romans living at the other end of the city).

I don't doubt that alot of the kit seen in the frescoes is real though, and dated to the mid-3rdC.

Sword moving from right to left - Robert Vermaat - 04-12-2013

Quote: I'll rephrase my question: 'But are they even modelled on Romans?' The problem with your argument is that, as they are guarding the Ark of the Covenant, they are the good guys.

'
'Good guys? I thought they were meant to show Philistines? Many authors presume they are modelled on Persian infantry, but I have no idea why - presumable the mail hoods and six-sided shields did not 'look' Roman.

Sword moving from right to left - Renatus - 04-12-2013

Quote:'Good guys? I thought they were meant to show Philistines?

If it represents the capture of the Ark, you'd be right, of course.

Sword moving from right to left - Paul Elliott - 04-15-2013

Quote:Le Bohec looks likely, I will get hold of a copy and have a look.
Thanks for the recommendation Frank.

I have Le Bohec's book 'The Imperial Roman Army' and although its doesn't discuss the sword/spear or shield debate, it is an absolute goldmine of hard facts and figures, analysis of gravestone statistics and so on. A great book that I will get a good deal from this year. Thanks for the mention!

Sword moving from right to left - Frank - 04-15-2013

Quote:
Mithras post=335035 Wrote:Le Bohec looks likely, I will get hold of a copy and have a look.
Thanks for the recommendation Frank.

I have Le Bohec's book 'The Imperial Roman Army' ...

I refered to Le Bohecs new book (2010) about the Late Roman Army. ;-)
I doubt he writes something about left or rigth sword. I said, IIRC he wrote about the strategy change mentioned above.

Sword moving from right to left - Paul Elliott - 04-16-2013

So you did ... is this going to cost me more money? Smile

Sword moving from right to left - Frank - 04-16-2013

Quote:So you did ... is this going to cost me more money?

I would not buy it. All books I have read about the Late Roman Army (Le Bohec, Nicasie, Elton, ...) have been a bit superficial. Nothing against the authors. We simply do not know that many details about the late roman army. Compared to the better books about the imperial army it is a bit disappointing.

Sword moving from right to left - Paul Elliott - 04-16-2013

Thanks for the advice, I have Eltons book which is pretty good and all the better for covering the barbarian side of things in equal detail.

Sword moving from right to left - Rado - 07-01-2013

Relief with Roman horseman Alba Iulia Romania.Early 2nd century.