01-04-2005, 01:24 AM
Here is a higher-quality view of the Ahenobarbus relief:<br>
<br>
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ZorchG/Relief1.jpg"/><br>
<br>
<br>
Let's call these two soldier 1 and soldier 2.<br>
<br>
<br>
And, for comparison, the section of the relief featuring the other two, let's call them soldier 3 and soldier 4:<br>
<br>
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ZorchG/Relief2.jpg"/><br>
<br>
<br>
The suggestion that soldier 1 has his hand to his forehead because he is saluting the seated aristocrat doesn't quite work. The seated guy isn't gesturing towards the soldier, he actually has his hand on the shoulder of the man standing next to him. I suppose it's either some kind of physical examination (as has been suggested to explain the events taking place in the relief), or an intimate conversation.<br>
<br>
You can also see that soldier 1 isn't holding his scutum up because he is at attention, but rather because it is a "short" scutum. Soldier 2 is holding a longer scutum, which he is resting on the ground. Soldiers 3 and 4 are similarly equipped with two distinctive size of shield. Soldier 3 is holding his scutum off the ground, like soldier one, and soldier 4, with the longer scutum, also has his resting on the ground. One of the most interesting aspects of the Ahenobarbus relief to me is the depiction of two distinct shield types. The two "short" shields held by soldiers 1 and 3 are identical in length, as are the "long" shields held by soldiers 2 and 4. (If you measure the shields in a photo you will see what I mean.)<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ZorchG/Relief1.jpg"/><br>
<br>
<br>
Let's call these two soldier 1 and soldier 2.<br>
<br>
<br>
And, for comparison, the section of the relief featuring the other two, let's call them soldier 3 and soldier 4:<br>
<br>
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ZorchG/Relief2.jpg"/><br>
<br>
<br>
The suggestion that soldier 1 has his hand to his forehead because he is saluting the seated aristocrat doesn't quite work. The seated guy isn't gesturing towards the soldier, he actually has his hand on the shoulder of the man standing next to him. I suppose it's either some kind of physical examination (as has been suggested to explain the events taking place in the relief), or an intimate conversation.<br>
<br>
You can also see that soldier 1 isn't holding his scutum up because he is at attention, but rather because it is a "short" scutum. Soldier 2 is holding a longer scutum, which he is resting on the ground. Soldiers 3 and 4 are similarly equipped with two distinctive size of shield. Soldier 3 is holding his scutum off the ground, like soldier one, and soldier 4, with the longer scutum, also has his resting on the ground. One of the most interesting aspects of the Ahenobarbus relief to me is the depiction of two distinct shield types. The two "short" shields held by soldiers 1 and 3 are identical in length, as are the "long" shields held by soldiers 2 and 4. (If you measure the shields in a photo you will see what I mean.)<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>
