Marching with Spears and Pila

[A_Volpe]

I too have contemplated this for some time.

I forget where the image is from, but there is a frescoe of a soldier holding a pilum much like this, in the other hand holding a cup in his palm, he's got a cloak on too.

Add. - Roman Military Clothing I - Page 21, 8 & 10 Pompeii frescoes...And, on the previous page, the "Pygmy" Judgement of Solomon frescoe - the middle figure appears to be holding the pilum similar in the Adamklissi sculpture...
In Connoly Greece and Rome at War - Page 225, Cancelleria/Vatican, the Praetorians in the lower right picture are carrying pila high on the shoulder, but have the hand the other way

This "new" position makes me think of carrying Halberd/Pike in 15-1600's (like DeGhyen's manual of arms) - the polearm being "shouldered" and held with the bottom/right hand cupping the buttspike - the polearm is therefore held quite high on the body.

I've noticed that by carrying the pilum in the "current" way, down low, fingers pointing downwards with the shaft held by the thumb and finger, that sometimes you'll knock your knee with the shaft, sometimes you'll drag the spike on the ground, and it gets uncomfortable trying to keep the shaft pressed against the crook of your shoulder after a while.

This "new" position seems like it would be more comfortable, and would keep the weapons out of the way/preventing people from getting wacked.

I'm certainly going to have to give this a try!

Thanks for finding the pics, hope we find more.