06-12-2007, 04:41 AM
to Ruben ;-
Yes, the subject is worthy of much more study.I am not sure that I can entirely agree with you regarding trade, though.Throughout human history,the eager search for better weapons has meant that the "arms trade" is usually among the foremost, and is as true of our own times as any other. For example, it is now thought that many of the 'poor quality copied Roman weapons" frequently found in Northern burials were actually Roman trade goods (c.f. European trade of muskets and hatchets etc to North Amer-indians )
On a slightly different tack, Carthage's well-known close trade/alliance with the Etruscans would fulfil both your criteria and trade as a means for Thracian style helmets etc to get to Carthage.
The late Roman sculpture referred to has sometimes been associated with Sulla - well spotted, Ruben ! Of course the fact that it is the only major piece of late republican sculpture extant no doubt helps.... it is sometimes attributed to a pergamene sculptor on the grounds of quality and style (e.g. by D.Strong )
As to the tombstone of Abd-Asart, it is from the numidian city of Cirta (Constantine), identified as 2nd century B.C.The tomb is sometimes mis-identified as that of a "spanish mercenary" ( presumably because of the style of weapons) but the inscription is clear, and the helmet is not a known spanish style,but is similar to the simplistic conical types known from the few Punic depictions. The best discussion of Carthaginian arms is in Duncan Head's"Armies of the Macedonian and Punic wars". A photo of the tombstone is illustrated in Connolly's "Greece and Rome at War, on p.150.
Yes, the subject is worthy of much more study.I am not sure that I can entirely agree with you regarding trade, though.Throughout human history,the eager search for better weapons has meant that the "arms trade" is usually among the foremost, and is as true of our own times as any other. For example, it is now thought that many of the 'poor quality copied Roman weapons" frequently found in Northern burials were actually Roman trade goods (c.f. European trade of muskets and hatchets etc to North Amer-indians )
On a slightly different tack, Carthage's well-known close trade/alliance with the Etruscans would fulfil both your criteria and trade as a means for Thracian style helmets etc to get to Carthage.
The late Roman sculpture referred to has sometimes been associated with Sulla - well spotted, Ruben ! Of course the fact that it is the only major piece of late republican sculpture extant no doubt helps.... it is sometimes attributed to a pergamene sculptor on the grounds of quality and style (e.g. by D.Strong )
As to the tombstone of Abd-Asart, it is from the numidian city of Cirta (Constantine), identified as 2nd century B.C.The tomb is sometimes mis-identified as that of a "spanish mercenary" ( presumably because of the style of weapons) but the inscription is clear, and the helmet is not a known spanish style,but is similar to the simplistic conical types known from the few Punic depictions. The best discussion of Carthaginian arms is in Duncan Head's"Armies of the Macedonian and Punic wars". A photo of the tombstone is illustrated in Connolly's "Greece and Rome at War, on p.150.
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
