08-31-2008, 02:14 AM
Hello all
I am not a member of a troop, just a lady numismatist who likes to visit Roman re-enactments when I have time and when I can find one which would interest me.
Here is an English translation of the "Spiegel" article mentioned by Shawn. Sorry about any typing errors, it's 4 a.m....
MARCH, MARCH, LEGIONAIRES
They're mad, the hobby Romans
(this is a play on words of the German saying "They're mad, the Romans" which can apply to any people of any nationality who do something silly)
By Christoph Titz
Passers-by think they're crazy: Ten students from Regensburg are marching 500 kilometers along the Danube, in full Roman uniform. A tunic, chain-mail top, sword and helmet weighs 35 kilograms (74 lbs). The tough legionaires smell strong and are thick with dirt - all in the name of academic research.
Even though he is the centurion, teacher Josef Löffl, 28, is marching just like his students are. In contrast to his historical predecessors in Roman imperial times, Centurion Löffel is not riding on horseback beside his legionnires. The hobby Roman is travelling on foot, vulgo: per pedes. And has been for three full weeks.
ROMAN PAINS: 500 KILOMETER MARCH ON NAILS
(Start photo series: click on a picture (14 pictures)
"You really do sweat a lot", says historian Löffl. That's to be expected when he and his nine fellow travellers are carrying 35 kg heavy Roman outfits, as close as possible to the originals, on their backs. From the inside to the outside: woollen under-tunic, long cotton tops alias subarmalis, chain-mail shirts or breast-plates. A woollen cloak is there to protect against "uncomfortable inflammation" should the metal rub against the neck.
On their feet they are wearing Ramshaw boots, flat leather shoes with nails beneath the soles, named after the archaeological site where they were discovered, Ramshaw, after 2000 years in the ground. On the outside, the Romans are carrying bags, leather pouches, water bags, parazonium and their helmets. And their backs are carrying a shield - a further six to eight kg heavy - and everything has been made as close to the original as possible. So it's pretty normal to smell a bit strong wearing such thick, heavy clothing. "That's what experimental archaeology is all about", says Löffl.
Theory put to the day to day test
In real life, he isn't a centurion at all, this "Magister Löffl" (Professor Löffl) as his students and colleagues respectfully call him. Hi is currently marching the 500 kilometer along the Danube-Limes, the former Roman wall in today's Austria, with his legionaires.
Four years ago, Löffl, still a student at that time, took his colleagues on a Roman tour over the Alps. The aim was, as today, to test the day-to-day functionability of the Romans' equipment and to find out whether the system of marching truly allowed the distances to be covered which are mentioned in books. In 2004 some critisism was aimed at Löffls March by academic colleagues - they complained that the Regensburger students were wasting time and taxpayers' money and their equipment wasn't so close to the original as they were claiming.
Susanne Wilbers-Rost, an experienced archaeologist from the Museumspark Varusschlacht in Kalkriese, comes to the defence of the young Danube marchers. "Experimental archaeolog is very valuable for science", she says. It is very useful "to test pure theory from books, in order to find out whether the theory is just a lot of rubbish". Of course there are groups of people who are not seriously interested in science, says Wilbers-Rost. "It can be just a joke - but it can just as well be scientific work."
Whoever is planning a historically correct march cannot do without consulting military historian Marcus Junkelmann. The war researcher with a weakness for ancient Rome was the German pioneer for scientific reenactments, the re-enactment of historical events, when he marched from Verona over the Alps to Augsburg with a small group of legionaires in 1985. On that subject he published the book "Die Legionen des Augustus". (The Legions of August)
Flat bread and stew for the Legion's Fitness
Junkelmann's joy at experimenting set an example for Josef Löffl. In contrast to most gladiator showmen and unserious hobby Romans, he wants to do things close to reality. "Most Reenactment groups are only able to stand around a field like decorations", Löffl said about such people as a tourist attraction. "We are not a travelling circus and we're not a petting zoo", he stresses. Which means: We are more genuine than the others.
For that reason the young Regensburger students are also trying to feed themselves in the same way as their warlike predecessors from about 250 A.D. They chew on the Roman military bread, panis militaris, about which Junkelmann has written an entire book. Apart from this rough corn, hard baked, flat bread, there is stew made of cereals, Löffl explains. One difference to the old days: the food is not foraged - in earlier times that meant that the soldiers helped themselves to foodstuffs from grain stores and stables in the places they camped.
Instead of the legalised robbery of old, the communities along the route are making the small troop free gifts of vegetables, water and firewood. In most cases, the village mayor comes to the camp with a photographer from the local newspaper and makes a show of handing over the donation. Lenses, peas and beans give a person amazing strength, centurion Löffl tells us: "One full bowl of field crockery per man per day was enough. The level of fitness rises enormously."
Huns, Robber barons - or just madmen?
Also necessary: The marching day of a Roman legionaire is tough. One sleeps in the malodorous tunic, which is damp from sweat, and around themselves the Regensburger students and Magister Löffl wrap their military cloak - the cloak of history, so to speak. This combination keeps them as warm as though they were in a sleeping bag. Wake-up call is at 03.45 hrs, then they dismantle the camp and put their uniforms back on.
"The metallic parts are already oxidised black from sweat", Löffl tells us. Beesway and grease protect the leather straps and weapons but they also make the skin and clothes dirty. Löffls men march 15 to 25 Kilometers per day. They prefer field paths or crossing fields any other way, because tarmac is very slippery with the leather boots. Löffl once badly turned his knee during a test march.
And because tarmac roads with their iron manhole covers wear away the nails under the soles very quickly, a shoemakers kit with nails, last and hammer is always present.
When the troop meet normal Europeans, there is a big "Hello!". Most of them recognise them immediately as Roman legionaires, Löffl says. But because of the dirt and smell, other people think they are supposed to be Huns or robber barons. "And then there are others", says Löffl and laughs, "who just think we're mad."
I am not a member of a troop, just a lady numismatist who likes to visit Roman re-enactments when I have time and when I can find one which would interest me.
Here is an English translation of the "Spiegel" article mentioned by Shawn. Sorry about any typing errors, it's 4 a.m....
MARCH, MARCH, LEGIONAIRES
They're mad, the hobby Romans
(this is a play on words of the German saying "They're mad, the Romans" which can apply to any people of any nationality who do something silly)
By Christoph Titz
Passers-by think they're crazy: Ten students from Regensburg are marching 500 kilometers along the Danube, in full Roman uniform. A tunic, chain-mail top, sword and helmet weighs 35 kilograms (74 lbs). The tough legionaires smell strong and are thick with dirt - all in the name of academic research.
Even though he is the centurion, teacher Josef Löffl, 28, is marching just like his students are. In contrast to his historical predecessors in Roman imperial times, Centurion Löffel is not riding on horseback beside his legionnires. The hobby Roman is travelling on foot, vulgo: per pedes. And has been for three full weeks.
ROMAN PAINS: 500 KILOMETER MARCH ON NAILS
(Start photo series: click on a picture (14 pictures)
"You really do sweat a lot", says historian Löffl. That's to be expected when he and his nine fellow travellers are carrying 35 kg heavy Roman outfits, as close as possible to the originals, on their backs. From the inside to the outside: woollen under-tunic, long cotton tops alias subarmalis, chain-mail shirts or breast-plates. A woollen cloak is there to protect against "uncomfortable inflammation" should the metal rub against the neck.
On their feet they are wearing Ramshaw boots, flat leather shoes with nails beneath the soles, named after the archaeological site where they were discovered, Ramshaw, after 2000 years in the ground. On the outside, the Romans are carrying bags, leather pouches, water bags, parazonium and their helmets. And their backs are carrying a shield - a further six to eight kg heavy - and everything has been made as close to the original as possible. So it's pretty normal to smell a bit strong wearing such thick, heavy clothing. "That's what experimental archaeology is all about", says Löffl.
Theory put to the day to day test
In real life, he isn't a centurion at all, this "Magister Löffl" (Professor Löffl) as his students and colleagues respectfully call him. Hi is currently marching the 500 kilometer along the Danube-Limes, the former Roman wall in today's Austria, with his legionaires.
Four years ago, Löffl, still a student at that time, took his colleagues on a Roman tour over the Alps. The aim was, as today, to test the day-to-day functionability of the Romans' equipment and to find out whether the system of marching truly allowed the distances to be covered which are mentioned in books. In 2004 some critisism was aimed at Löffls March by academic colleagues - they complained that the Regensburger students were wasting time and taxpayers' money and their equipment wasn't so close to the original as they were claiming.
Susanne Wilbers-Rost, an experienced archaeologist from the Museumspark Varusschlacht in Kalkriese, comes to the defence of the young Danube marchers. "Experimental archaeolog is very valuable for science", she says. It is very useful "to test pure theory from books, in order to find out whether the theory is just a lot of rubbish". Of course there are groups of people who are not seriously interested in science, says Wilbers-Rost. "It can be just a joke - but it can just as well be scientific work."
Whoever is planning a historically correct march cannot do without consulting military historian Marcus Junkelmann. The war researcher with a weakness for ancient Rome was the German pioneer for scientific reenactments, the re-enactment of historical events, when he marched from Verona over the Alps to Augsburg with a small group of legionaires in 1985. On that subject he published the book "Die Legionen des Augustus". (The Legions of August)
Flat bread and stew for the Legion's Fitness
Junkelmann's joy at experimenting set an example for Josef Löffl. In contrast to most gladiator showmen and unserious hobby Romans, he wants to do things close to reality. "Most Reenactment groups are only able to stand around a field like decorations", Löffl said about such people as a tourist attraction. "We are not a travelling circus and we're not a petting zoo", he stresses. Which means: We are more genuine than the others.
For that reason the young Regensburger students are also trying to feed themselves in the same way as their warlike predecessors from about 250 A.D. They chew on the Roman military bread, panis militaris, about which Junkelmann has written an entire book. Apart from this rough corn, hard baked, flat bread, there is stew made of cereals, Löffl explains. One difference to the old days: the food is not foraged - in earlier times that meant that the soldiers helped themselves to foodstuffs from grain stores and stables in the places they camped.
Instead of the legalised robbery of old, the communities along the route are making the small troop free gifts of vegetables, water and firewood. In most cases, the village mayor comes to the camp with a photographer from the local newspaper and makes a show of handing over the donation. Lenses, peas and beans give a person amazing strength, centurion Löffl tells us: "One full bowl of field crockery per man per day was enough. The level of fitness rises enormously."
Huns, Robber barons - or just madmen?
Also necessary: The marching day of a Roman legionaire is tough. One sleeps in the malodorous tunic, which is damp from sweat, and around themselves the Regensburger students and Magister Löffl wrap their military cloak - the cloak of history, so to speak. This combination keeps them as warm as though they were in a sleeping bag. Wake-up call is at 03.45 hrs, then they dismantle the camp and put their uniforms back on.
"The metallic parts are already oxidised black from sweat", Löffl tells us. Beesway and grease protect the leather straps and weapons but they also make the skin and clothes dirty. Löffls men march 15 to 25 Kilometers per day. They prefer field paths or crossing fields any other way, because tarmac is very slippery with the leather boots. Löffl once badly turned his knee during a test march.
And because tarmac roads with their iron manhole covers wear away the nails under the soles very quickly, a shoemakers kit with nails, last and hammer is always present.
When the troop meet normal Europeans, there is a big "Hello!". Most of them recognise them immediately as Roman legionaires, Löffl says. But because of the dirt and smell, other people think they are supposed to be Huns or robber barons. "And then there are others", says Löffl and laughs, "who just think we're mad."
Dane Kurth
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Helvetia libera dei gratia
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Helvetia libera dei gratia
