12-24-2006, 10:12 PM
I wonder if anyone here can help me out - I'm looking for information on the equites legionis in early imperial times. Information like that is woefully sparse, at least as far as I've been able to find. Most papers and books seem to deal with the alae.
What I know or think I know:
There were 120 of them, organized in 4 turmae, each commanded by a decurio. Or does that only apply to the alae?
The decurio was the equivalent of a centurio on horseback. He also wore the crista transversa. How far do the similarites go? Does he have the greaves/ocreae? (They would make sense on a horse.) What about the stick/vitis?
Equites seem to have had calones, servants - I assume it was slaves - who took care of their horses for them. Judging by the sheer mass of gravestones showing calones, I would guess that every eques, not just officers, had a calo. Would that be correct?
If anyone could direct me to a site or book dealing with the subject, I'd be very happy
And another question, not restricted to equites: I've heard it mentioned that legionaries might have worn lead-cast little coins with their names, unit, and commanding officer imprinted. Would those look like US Army dog-tags? Are they even halfway historically sound or even probable?
Thanks a lot! And my, those are a lot of italics.
What I know or think I know:
There were 120 of them, organized in 4 turmae, each commanded by a decurio. Or does that only apply to the alae?
The decurio was the equivalent of a centurio on horseback. He also wore the crista transversa. How far do the similarites go? Does he have the greaves/ocreae? (They would make sense on a horse.) What about the stick/vitis?
Equites seem to have had calones, servants - I assume it was slaves - who took care of their horses for them. Judging by the sheer mass of gravestones showing calones, I would guess that every eques, not just officers, had a calo. Would that be correct?
If anyone could direct me to a site or book dealing with the subject, I'd be very happy
And another question, not restricted to equites: I've heard it mentioned that legionaries might have worn lead-cast little coins with their names, unit, and commanding officer imprinted. Would those look like US Army dog-tags? Are they even halfway historically sound or even probable?
Thanks a lot! And my, those are a lot of italics.
Jenny Dolfen
My illustrated novel project: [URL="http://darknessovercannae.com/"]Darkness over Cannae[/URL]
My illustrated novel project: [URL="http://darknessovercannae.com/"]Darkness over Cannae[/URL]