Tombstones

[mcbishop]

So if it isn't tablets in his belt what other hypothesis is there?

Baatz thought these little rectangles were for tablets but the problem is that every soldier who had tablets showed them off (since they were a sign of achievement) and usually had a rank that required clerical duties. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry on the Rhineland has these little boxy things so I think it is something else. I know re-enactors like pouchy things for money etc but there is actually no evidence for these on early tombstones so I wonder if these are purses or something similar. Certainly a safe place to keep it (remembering that they were tucked into the top of the cummberbund). I seem to remember finding something similar to these amongst the published leather finds from Valkenburg but I could be wrong. Anyway, I find the tablet idea unconvincing.

And are you absolutely sure it is a throwing strap? There seems to be an awful lot of depictions of pila and other hand thrown, long pointy missiles which DON'T have throwing straps? Perhaps it was an award he was very proud of? (Although not sure why that would have a throwing strap...if it is one).

No, I'm not absolutely sure, but it loops around the shaft and appears to be held in his fingers so it seems the best explanation (having eliminated the impossible etc etc). Incidentally there aren't many depictions of pila on tombstones of comparable quality to Flavoleius Cordus (which is nearly as good as Annaius Daverzus) so, as ever, there is little by way of comparanda.

Mike Bishop