03-22-2012, 12:22 AM
In his book "Riding for Caesar" (London 1994)p. 33 Michael P. Speidel wrote about this weapon:
"The lancea of the speculatores has become known from a gravestone relief: its long shaft ended in a knob, and its short, broad, heart-shaped blade has a cross bar. Both ends therefore, were designed for crowd control."
The references he gave are: Année Epigraphique 1955, 24; A. Giuliano, Museo Nazionale Romano, Le Sculture I, 7 (Rome 1984) 198; M. Clauss, Untersuchungen zu den Principales des römischen Heeres von Augustus bis Diocletian (Diss. Bochum 1973)79; Année Epigraphique 1989, 134
As I wasn't able to consult one of these works, does someone knows which gravestone is meant?
The crossbar sounds conspicious that rather a signum might be depicted...
Thanks in advance!
"The lancea of the speculatores has become known from a gravestone relief: its long shaft ended in a knob, and its short, broad, heart-shaped blade has a cross bar. Both ends therefore, were designed for crowd control."
The references he gave are: Année Epigraphique 1955, 24; A. Giuliano, Museo Nazionale Romano, Le Sculture I, 7 (Rome 1984) 198; M. Clauss, Untersuchungen zu den Principales des römischen Heeres von Augustus bis Diocletian (Diss. Bochum 1973)79; Année Epigraphique 1989, 134
As I wasn't able to consult one of these works, does someone knows which gravestone is meant?
The crossbar sounds conspicious that rather a signum might be depicted...
Thanks in advance!
Andreas Gagelmann
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany