01-17-2005, 09:45 PM
A common motif in madieval art is the knight's wife or mother giving him his helmet, even placing it on his head, while his father gives him his sword. The implication is that the female loved ones are more concerned with his safety, the father more with his honor. Perhaps the Romans had the same motif, in which case the lady has just placed the helmet on the warrior's head and he is adjusting it properly. That curly thing in the seated figure's hand is a lituus: the augur's staff. He has just taken the auguries for the warrior's mission. Presumably, they were favorable. <p></p><i></i>
