04-22-2008, 09:30 AM
Hi Micha !
I didn't actually say "had to be legionary cavalry or auxilia C.R.".....I was cautious enough to use phrases such as "may have served..." "most likely served..." or "just possibly..." and the other two possible explanations I put forward, including a discharged wounded veteran as " likeliest" based on his age and wounds.......
I definitely wouldn't disagree with you that other explanations, such as the frumentarius you suggested, are most certainly possible.
To answer the original question, the evidence of this man, whatever he was, together with the knowledge that soldiers paid for their kit, hence owned it, plus the evidence referred to by Ralph, and the painted depictions of men from Pompeii/Herculaneum in what appears to be military tunica ( or worn military style, hitched up - bearing in mind the same was true of 'working class' Romans anyway) points to the answers to Al's questions being most likely "Yes!".....
D
I didn't actually say "had to be legionary cavalry or auxilia C.R.".....I was cautious enough to use phrases such as "may have served..." "most likely served..." or "just possibly..." and the other two possible explanations I put forward, including a discharged wounded veteran as " likeliest" based on his age and wounds.......
I definitely wouldn't disagree with you that other explanations, such as the frumentarius you suggested, are most certainly possible.
To answer the original question, the evidence of this man, whatever he was, together with the knowledge that soldiers paid for their kit, hence owned it, plus the evidence referred to by Ralph, and the painted depictions of men from Pompeii/Herculaneum in what appears to be military tunica ( or worn military style, hitched up - bearing in mind the same was true of 'working class' Romans anyway) points to the answers to Al's questions being most likely "Yes!".....
D
"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
