06-20-2014, 01:48 PM
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Anyway, behold the ramblings of a guy on pain meds, convalescing from surgery, with too much time to think.
Bryan, brilliant - thank you - and, whatever it is, I hope you recover soon.
Whilst convalescing though - perhaps ponder this (that I alluded to before, whilst missing the 'greaves' statement..... :oops: )
One of the reasons I wonder about the Fayum-shaped shield (and then seen everywhere) is - where are the iron rims that protect the top and bottom and allow it to be rested on the ground? They might imply that the shield is already more of a rectangle....
As to the hexagonal shield - it seems reasonably sensible to see this introduced, particularly by the ala singulares, with the incorporation of germanic soldiers where we believe the shape originated. Certainly it would differentiate the german ala from the other praetorian cavalry, which would be quite deliberate. Others may then have adopted it to show a linked ethnic origin where that was deemed suitable.
