02-18-2005, 09:36 AM
Well, you'd have to prove first that a) there were marines as such and b) that they wore any kind of armour<br>
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I'm no expert on ancient image-building (i.e. propaganda) but as far as I know the message (the Emperor is adored by his army and is in command of a great host, or something to that effect) is <em>much</em> more important than the details of arms and equipment.<br>
In any discussion about Rome-city artwork, we shouldn't forget that the only soldiers in Rome were Praetorian and Urban Cohorts (the former wearing toga's according to Rankov), the emperor's bodyguard, naval troops for the Colloseum and message-bearing and finally the troops in the Castra Peregrinorum: speculators, frumentarii and other scary people detached for 'special duties'.<br>
Barring the civil war of 68-70, there was no body of legionaries in or around Rome from 31 BC-194 AD when Septimius Severus stationed a legion near Alba Iulia as counterweight to the Praetorians. Legionaries were born, recruited and died on the frontiers more and more. In fact, when the Rhine legionaries appeared in Rome in 69 AD, we read of their barbaric and scary looks! In short: the city dwellers may well have forgotten what Roman combat troops really looked like. <p>Greets<br>
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Jasper</p><i></i>
<br>
I'm no expert on ancient image-building (i.e. propaganda) but as far as I know the message (the Emperor is adored by his army and is in command of a great host, or something to that effect) is <em>much</em> more important than the details of arms and equipment.<br>
In any discussion about Rome-city artwork, we shouldn't forget that the only soldiers in Rome were Praetorian and Urban Cohorts (the former wearing toga's according to Rankov), the emperor's bodyguard, naval troops for the Colloseum and message-bearing and finally the troops in the Castra Peregrinorum: speculators, frumentarii and other scary people detached for 'special duties'.<br>
Barring the civil war of 68-70, there was no body of legionaries in or around Rome from 31 BC-194 AD when Septimius Severus stationed a legion near Alba Iulia as counterweight to the Praetorians. Legionaries were born, recruited and died on the frontiers more and more. In fact, when the Rhine legionaries appeared in Rome in 69 AD, we read of their barbaric and scary looks! In short: the city dwellers may well have forgotten what Roman combat troops really looked like. <p>Greets<br>
<br>
Jasper</p><i></i>
