01-31-2012, 11:33 PM
Graham Sumner wrote:
I have wondered if the draped style fashion originated in the east and may have followed units that were transferred to Europe, such as the eastern archers Hyperanor and Pantera shown on the Rhineland sculptures. Any thoughts on that Mike?
I don't think so as there are quite a few Balkan chaps wearing it too (like Licaius at Wiesbaden). Anyway, we all know they wore ankle-length nightdresses and pointy helmets; must be true, it's on TC
I was thinking more in terms of the fashion being introduced into the Rhineland region by eastern troops and then spreading to other units serving locally, such as the chap you mention and then even into the local Legions. The only other severe style of sculptured drapery I am familiar with is on Palmyrene sculpture. Jon Coulston thinks the long nightdress chaps on TC are Sarmations. In a flight of fantasy I wondered again more on sculptural grounds that they were Indians, recruited not from North America or even India but Egypt as there appears to have been large Indian communities scattered along the coast of Egypt. It would fit in with Trajan's desire to get to India but precious little else I have to admit.
What is slightly disconcerting here is that it at first glance looks like two paenulae, one on top of the other, but I think it's just supposed to be one.
Nevertheless the Vindolanda tablets do indeed mention an under paenula. Maybe your observation is not too far off the mark Mike!
It's the same problem as the 'subarmalis' in the Carlisle writing tablet; Roger Tomlin thinks it's a type of javelin, I think it's the you-know-what, but there is nothing in the text to say either of us is right or wrong. That's the slithiness of word-juggling for you
M. Speidel strongly agrees with you as do I.
Graham.
I have wondered if the draped style fashion originated in the east and may have followed units that were transferred to Europe, such as the eastern archers Hyperanor and Pantera shown on the Rhineland sculptures. Any thoughts on that Mike?
I don't think so as there are quite a few Balkan chaps wearing it too (like Licaius at Wiesbaden). Anyway, we all know they wore ankle-length nightdresses and pointy helmets; must be true, it's on TC
I was thinking more in terms of the fashion being introduced into the Rhineland region by eastern troops and then spreading to other units serving locally, such as the chap you mention and then even into the local Legions. The only other severe style of sculptured drapery I am familiar with is on Palmyrene sculpture. Jon Coulston thinks the long nightdress chaps on TC are Sarmations. In a flight of fantasy I wondered again more on sculptural grounds that they were Indians, recruited not from North America or even India but Egypt as there appears to have been large Indian communities scattered along the coast of Egypt. It would fit in with Trajan's desire to get to India but precious little else I have to admit.
What is slightly disconcerting here is that it at first glance looks like two paenulae, one on top of the other, but I think it's just supposed to be one.
Nevertheless the Vindolanda tablets do indeed mention an under paenula. Maybe your observation is not too far off the mark Mike!
It's the same problem as the 'subarmalis' in the Carlisle writing tablet; Roger Tomlin thinks it's a type of javelin, I think it's the you-know-what, but there is nothing in the text to say either of us is right or wrong. That's the slithiness of word-juggling for you
M. Speidel strongly agrees with you as do I.
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
