02-15-2008, 02:45 AM
Herewith is a drawing I made many years ago, while studying the Column (1978!!) reconstructing a type of Auxiliary depicted on Trajan's Column. Several of these guys appear in a scene which looks like a 'flying column' of troops led by the Emperor.
If each figure represents a unit, (pure speculation, and possibly unlikely! ) then the 'Flying Column' might consist of 2 or possibly 3 cohorts armed like this, with slight variations in shield patterns, together with 1 cohort of 'conventionally' equipped auxiliaries, 4 Alae of cavalry, or possibly,since they are shown dismounted and leading their horses, cohortes equitatae (?) and some very interesting 'Symmachiarii' barbarian Allies who look rather Germanic and carry clubs etc ...[Asturum or Aestii?]( scene XXXVI). Also associated with these 'animal skin wearers' are figures in 'cut-down' hemets - no cheekpieces, (chin ties instead), neck-pieces cut off etc.
It is known that at least 2 cohortes of Batavians took part in the War (Cohors I Batavorum milliara pia fidelis and Cohors II Batavorum milliara).
The figures in question clearly wear smaller, differently depicted animal skins than the signifer 'bearskins' and therefore might be wolf/fox skins, and the cut-off helmets are very distinctive too.
I would like to tentavely suggest that these figures represent Batavians...in which case we have a possible shield design for Batavians....I suspect the one currently utilised, and now increasingly referred to as 'the Batavian shield design' by re-enactors is more likely to be that of the singulares. This is not only because the design comes from a sculpture memorial of a Batavian singulare, but because on the Column, the same design is carried by an auxiliary type, who is fairly unique in having a crest ( crests are otherwise shown only on Praetorian Guards) and who may thus represent a singulare..........
What are others views on this tentative, but very tempting suggestion ?
If each figure represents a unit, (pure speculation, and possibly unlikely! ) then the 'Flying Column' might consist of 2 or possibly 3 cohorts armed like this, with slight variations in shield patterns, together with 1 cohort of 'conventionally' equipped auxiliaries, 4 Alae of cavalry, or possibly,since they are shown dismounted and leading their horses, cohortes equitatae (?) and some very interesting 'Symmachiarii' barbarian Allies who look rather Germanic and carry clubs etc ...[Asturum or Aestii?]( scene XXXVI). Also associated with these 'animal skin wearers' are figures in 'cut-down' hemets - no cheekpieces, (chin ties instead), neck-pieces cut off etc.
It is known that at least 2 cohortes of Batavians took part in the War (Cohors I Batavorum milliara pia fidelis and Cohors II Batavorum milliara).
The figures in question clearly wear smaller, differently depicted animal skins than the signifer 'bearskins' and therefore might be wolf/fox skins, and the cut-off helmets are very distinctive too.
I would like to tentavely suggest that these figures represent Batavians...in which case we have a possible shield design for Batavians....I suspect the one currently utilised, and now increasingly referred to as 'the Batavian shield design' by re-enactors is more likely to be that of the singulares. This is not only because the design comes from a sculpture memorial of a Batavian singulare, but because on the Column, the same design is carried by an auxiliary type, who is fairly unique in having a crest ( crests are otherwise shown only on Praetorian Guards) and who may thus represent a singulare..........
What are others views on this tentative, but very tempting suggestion ?
"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
