06-27-2014, 04:12 PM
[quote][quote="Mark Hygate" post=356554]Michael's link to the signifers on Trajan's column show them holding (underarm, held in the palm of the hand and, potentially holding a small knife?) a relatively small disc-shaped object. But is it a shield, or perhaps a plate of some sort (for an offering possibly and that's why the knife)?[/quote]
More signiferi with dinner plates? I don't think so.
Michael,
No, they look more like shields - I was simply asking, for the previous picture showed them being held strangely. If signifers/aquilifers had small shields (so the unit is identified?) then they were not 3ft diameter parmas.
I had certainly, up until now, been under the impression that a Roman standard of those types was a two-handed carrying job. If it is not (and here I would happily defer to anyone who has carried a reasonable facsimile ) - can you actually fight with it as well as a man with gladius and scutum? If you cannot, then you do not belong in the front rank under normal circumstances.
More signiferi with dinner plates? I don't think so.
Michael,
No, they look more like shields - I was simply asking, for the previous picture showed them being held strangely. If signifers/aquilifers had small shields (so the unit is identified?) then they were not 3ft diameter parmas.
I had certainly, up until now, been under the impression that a Roman standard of those types was a two-handed carrying job. If it is not (and here I would happily defer to anyone who has carried a reasonable facsimile ) - can you actually fight with it as well as a man with gladius and scutum? If you cannot, then you do not belong in the front rank under normal circumstances.