Show here your Roman soldier impression

Show here your Roman soldier impression - Printable Version

+- RomanArmyTalk (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat)
+-- Forum: Reenactment (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Roman Re-Enactment & Reconstruction (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=26)
+--- Thread: Show here your Roman soldier impression (/showthread.php?tid=2606)

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Forty-One - 04-26-2011

But why couldn't you do it the other way around? Make sure it fits you when not in armour (which is probably how you'd wear your belt the vast majority of the time anyway) and loosen it a notch or two when in full battledress. Assuming you only ever had one belt.

Are we so absolutely certain that these belt plates were universal, and that they always completely covered the belt all around?

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Quintius Clavus - 04-26-2011

Belt plates did not always completely cover the belt. The Velsen soldier's belt had no plates on the back. On the other hand, the Herculaneum soldier's belt was completely covered with plates, if I recall correctly. In both these circumstances the entire soldier's body was found. Neither one of them was wearing armor.

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - A_Volpe - 04-27-2011

Actually my question about wearing the sash over armor was meant for the Imperial period, I apologize if I did not make that more clear.

I personally, do not subscribe to doing this, as I agree with Graham there is hardly any evidence for it, even with the Vaches guy in maille. I think it's possible that what is seen and thought to be a sash, under the right arm, and between where the sword is hanging, could be a leather, or maybe fabric, gap-filler to prevent the belt from sagging too much - But of course, that's just some guesswork from looking at the images. One could stare until one's eyeballs pool out of one's head before we got anywhere closer to what it might have been.

What I have been doing is putting on my tunic, tying that up with a leather cord (I'd like to eventually replace that with a narrow cloth belt), and blouse up the tunic to the right height (Quintius Clavus can attest to how fidgety I can be with trying to get the 'curve' and pleats just right, as I try to get close to the tombstone showing a heavily pleated, pulled up high at the sides look to the tunic) - I then take my sash and wrap it around fairly tightly. It's a simple piece of wool, folded over itself once, and with the ends coming to a point (made from it being a cut-off), I've tried a variety of 'knots' and still am not decided on what works yet, so won't divulge here.

That, for the most part, takes care of my belly. I then fidget a little more bringing the under arm sides loosened out enough so they are not pulling when I move my arms. Sometimes if I feel the bottom sides are not up high enough, I'll try to tuck those up under the sash. Doesn't always work, but it's part of the overall experiment, right?

If I'm not wearing armor, the belt goes ontop of the sash. If in armor, I'll keep the sash on, it does seem to add a bit of support as well as some padding for the bottom corners of my Lor. Seggie, as those tent to find their way digging into my belly if I'm not careful.

Honestly I don't know how I got along without that sash, it does help support the belt as well as keeping the metal from said belt from cutting into your tunic or you. It also adds just a little more pizazz and color to the 'unarmored' look To me, it really makes sense.

All of this said, for the mid Imperial period (tending to focus on 69-70 CE), for what it works for in Late period, I just don't know, it's not my interest, so willing to go along with the general consensus there.

On a far off and rather unrelated note, the use of a sash seen on Cuirassier type armor in the early 1600's, was used more as a rank marker and personal ID than for much practical use - but they did sport big brightly colored sashes over their 3/4 armor. So I guess what I'm trying to say there is that people find ways to add onto kit and armor, and after a few centuries, we might lose sense as to what it was actually for. They sure knew why they were doing it.

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Robert Vermaat - 04-27-2011

Quote:However I think the initial question was, what is the evidence for the fabric waistband being worn over mail in the late empire by either cavalry or infantry? I would have to answer none at all as far as I am aware but I would be delighted to hear otherwise.

Although I interpret the line on the armoured figure on the right as the bottom of a coif, there are also those who see it as a sash/waistband. It's from the Vergilius Romanus (Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica, Cod. Vat. lat. 3867), most probably a 5th-c. manuscript.
[attachment=681]RomanVirgilFolio188v.jpg[/attachment]

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Graham Sumner - 04-27-2011

Thanks for pointing that out that Robert.

It does look a bit high up on the body to qualify for a waist sash. It looks more like the earlier zona militaris called in later times a loros which are often seen on the muscled cuirass worn by senior commanders.

Graham.

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Caballo - 04-27-2011

Quote:It does look a bit high up on the body to qualify for a waist sash. It looks more like the earlier zona militaris called in later times a loros which are often seen on the muscled cuirass worn by senior commanders.

It also made me look again at the similarly placed belt/ sash from Piazza Armerina. I'd always assumed this was a red belt, but now am unsure?
[Image: SuperStock_1788-1301.jpg]

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Dany Boy - 05-01-2011

We had the time of our life taking participation in Natale di Roma 2011
We have been invited to march on the streets of the Eternal City by X Gemina and we want to thanks them for giving us this opportunity!
We took the decision to start traveling at the very last moment as we are still waiting for our gear and we have just the very base elements from the equipment which responds to this historical period.

Personal greetings to Mr Van Hoof

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Ammianus - 05-12-2011

For the years I've been on RAT I've never posted up my 'impression'.

Then in looking for photos I realised that 1. people are often in the way, 2. I don't own a nice one of me in all my 'posh' kit (minus armour) and 3. most action photos of me are taken from behind :???:

Anyway here's some photos:

[attachment=869]IMG_1183.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=872]IMG_1239.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=871]IMG_5625.JPG[/attachment]

With two of my favourite chums on Hadrian's Wall!
[attachment=870]105.jpg[/attachment]

Apologies if you're easily offended by female reconstructors! I know many of you get immensely heated over the subject. But I think I've done a pretty good job over the years. :roll: Big Grin

(And as per above comments - being a girl of slim build I have the above issues with belts with and without armour ALL the time :eek: But nothing a few more holes in the belt strap can't solve.)

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - John Conyard - 05-12-2011

In that last photo, are you the one on the left? :lol:

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - jvrjenivs - 05-12-2011

Looking good, Amy! Well, you did already know my opinion about your kit, most probably.

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Caballo - 05-12-2011

"with two of my favourite chums on Hadrians Wall"
Awww....shucks!

Looking great , Amy!!

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Ammianus - 05-12-2011

Quote:In that last photo, are you the one on the left? :lol:

Yeah I aged a bit on campaign. I blame the weather...

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Tita Iuventia Martia - 05-15-2011

Hi Amy,

a very nice impression. I like your kit a lot, I wouldn't want it for myself because we're portraying 1st century guys, but you look great in that kit.

And I feel your pain regarding the issue of female reenactors portraying soldies, because I have the same problems myself. But I hope that things will get better in future :-)

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Antoninus05 - 05-15-2011

Great Job Amy....it is you and your group Comitatus,who inspired us to form our Late Roman group here in Texas. With the help of Claire Marshall providing excellent clothing and folks on here offering excellent advice on authenticity, we are moving forward. I admire the treks you have done on Hadrian's Wall, I hope to do one sometime in the near future.Cheers, Mike

Re: Show here your roman soldier impression - Cheyenne - 05-15-2011

Awe, cheers Mike Smile

I'm sure if you made a decision to do some walking on Hadrians wall, there would be plenty of gracious people over here who would be very happy to host you

My friend walked the whole length of Hadrians wall over a 5 day period dressed only in my late Roman kit and eating Roman food for Breast Cancer research - he was in bits after it and ended up needing surgery on his feet - but he said it was WELL worth it!

C