01-21-2008, 03:39 PM
Hi Nik,
Why are the legggings 'typically Roman'?
Why do you interpret the leggings and swords as accurate but the shields as 'poor'? I think the hexagonal shields are very un-Roman, and logic would call for the very 'typical'Roman shields as one of the easiest items of Roman equipment to reproduce! If the artist botched up the shields that bad, would we be able to trust the rest of the depiction at all? :wink:
The main reason for the soldiers to be 'seen' as enemies of Rome is because the are the enemies of Israel in the artwork. Depicting Romans in the riole of 'enemies' would be possible of course, but also a bit risky.
As to the figures not being parthians or Sassanids, their swords may be short (some seem single-edged?), but the long scale (mail?) armour was much more a Parthian/Sassanid thing than seen in Roman armies.
Why are the legggings 'typically Roman'?
Why do you interpret the leggings and swords as accurate but the shields as 'poor'? I think the hexagonal shields are very un-Roman, and logic would call for the very 'typical'Roman shields as one of the easiest items of Roman equipment to reproduce! If the artist botched up the shields that bad, would we be able to trust the rest of the depiction at all? :wink:
The main reason for the soldiers to be 'seen' as enemies of Rome is because the are the enemies of Israel in the artwork. Depicting Romans in the riole of 'enemies' would be possible of course, but also a bit risky.
As to the figures not being parthians or Sassanids, their swords may be short (some seem single-edged?), but the long scale (mail?) armour was much more a Parthian/Sassanid thing than seen in Roman armies.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
