06-09-2007, 07:58 PM
Quote: I used to place plumbata high on the right of the shield. But such a method needed strapping of which we have archaeological or pictorial evidence), subjected the darts to possible damage when the shield was struck, limited my carrying capacity and unbalanced the shield.This is partly why I think that this was just a method of each soldier carrying 5 into battle, but not necessarily using them 'from the shield'. Maurice never mentions that.
Of course we have no archaeological evidence for the 'strap-on-shield' method, but that not entirely fair as we have justa very few shields from that period to begin with! :wink:
Quote:Maurice mentions placing them in buckets which has made me believe that darts came in small buckets, quivers or just bags.I discussed this with Philip Rance, who is finishing the latest edition of The Strategikon, and he agrees with me that the wording most probably refers to quivers.
Quote:These could be tied or carried attached to the shield handle. Such a system would require no straps, or leave any trace. You can carry reasonable numbers, jettison them when you have to, and center the weight in the middle of the shield so you don't disrupt the balance of the shield.Posssibly, but then the plumbatae would be fairly short? Are you still thinking of just 5 here? My quiver is for longer plumbatae (but I'm beginning to think that shorter ones may be better), and I can carry 10 to 15 of them.
Quote:When you pass them forward to the front rank you can pass the bucket in one go, rather than passing one dart at a time. You can carry a bucket easily and during combat without fear of the darts being damaged. Such a system works for darts of varying sizes. Blunt darts always seem to vary in length and weight depending which group member has made them. But they all fit in a bucket. You can't always rely on throwing them all before combat is joined, and anyway a dart in the teeth of your opponent makes a nice close quarter option.I still think that throwing them from the front is possible, but that this can be done only when a) the fight is still some time away and b) when you have ample space behind you. But it's possible.
I think that it were the back files that threw plumbatae over the heads of their comrades when these had become engaged in earnest.
Quote:This is of course supposition, but at least based on written evidence.What is based on written evidence exactly? Not all of the above, I'm sure. :wink:
Quote:People carry them in both ways in Comitatus, we are not proscriptive. But the bucket system is catching on!Could you please show us some pictures of how that system works?
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)