01-26-2007, 06:34 PM
That's a different foot standing on a sword-wielding hand. I think the Essedarius or Galli has taken his enemy's sword and is administering the coup de grace with it. I find it intriguing that at last we have an inside view of one of the oval shields. Are those sculpted or painted serpents flanking the umbo?
Also intriguing are the leg guard above the foot standing on the sword-holding hand and the caestus-like manicae. Are we seeing patterned fabric, woven leather or embossed metal? Looks like woven leather to me, but who knows? I don't see a sica.
I hope this is for real, because it's loaded with detail from a period about which we have very little hard evidence.
Also intriguing are the leg guard above the foot standing on the sword-holding hand and the caestus-like manicae. Are we seeing patterned fabric, woven leather or embossed metal? Looks like woven leather to me, but who knows? I don't see a sica.
I hope this is for real, because it's loaded with detail from a period about which we have very little hard evidence.
Pecunia non olet
