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6th century AD Roman soldier
#3
The majority of helmets, including the ones from Novae, seem to have been basic Bandhelmets or Spangenhelmets. For example, this bandhelmet from Narona:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c...Narona.JPG

Many appear to have been built with Intercisa-Helmet Cheekpieces, and probably had quilted or even maille aventails. Take this example from the Brooklyn Museum (the Aventail is poorly reconstructed).

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564...475cf4.jpg

Pointed Spangenhelmets were also widespread, take for example this helmet from Jerusalem:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736...5c8a97.jpg

Or this one from Sinj:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/ori...a1e146.jpg

Then, as Nathan has already mentioned, there are the elaborate Baldenheims, most of which were manufactured in the Empire and presented as gifts to Barbarians. It seems the Goths also manufactured them as well. Here are ones found within the Roman Empire: Heraclea Lyncestis and Voivoda (which is a mix of Bandhelm/Baldenheim).

http://www.livinghistory.cz/sites/defaul...bitola.jpg

http://collections.cl.bas.bg/APlus/Shume...e/0035.jpg

There's also variations on these designs, such as the Novae helmets Nathan mentioned and the helmet from the RGZM museum:

http://web.rgzm.de/uploads/_processed_/c...e559cf.jpg

The Romans also used Lamellar Helmets starting in the Late 4th Century. Earlier ones are of different construction, more similar to the Kispek helmet, but this 6th Century Example from the Arms Manufacturing Center at Stara Zagora is Roman:

http://web.rgzm.de/fileadmin/_migrated/p...00x600.png

In limited numbers, ridge helmets appear to have continued usage as well.

This is a pretty standard 6th century sword - it's what we call a Germanic Type-I. I believe this one was made by Paul Binns.

http://www.paul-binns-swords.co.uk/Image...5_hilt.jpg

However... I'm honestly not sure if the standard Roman infantryman may have carried a sword anymore. Maurice calls it the Herul Sword, and says every infantryman should have one, but not that they do have them. Scabbards tended to have U-shaped chapes and edge reinforcements running all the way up the sides, possibly integral to the U-shaped chape. I call them the "Reinforcing-Arm U-Chape". See the guards on the Barberini Ivory or the Throne of Maximian in Ravenna:

http://news.psu.edu/sites/default/files/...k=XBKHvj8s

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/ori...afc755.jpg

It's possible the Romans were using Sassanian style 2-point suspension at this point, but I don't know. Scabbard slides with baldrics or swordbelts seem to have still been in widespread use.

Langseaxes of the Hunnish and Avar style (the so called narrow langseax, or the proto-saber once they start hitting 60-80cm in length, and eventually the Paramerion) were popular among cavalrymen.

This Proto-Saber is Avar, much later, probably 7th-8th century, but it gets the point across:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236...94d019.jpg

Long, straight, seax-style blade. These were the first Parameria, and would evolve into the true saber by the 8th century.
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Messages In This Thread
6th century AD Roman soldier - by Agaton - 04-07-2017, 03:26 PM
RE: 6th Roman soldier - by Nathan Ross - 04-08-2017, 04:06 PM
RE: 6th Roman soldier - by Flavivs Aetivs - 04-08-2017, 05:54 PM
RE: 6th Roman soldier - by Flavivs Aetivs - 04-08-2017, 09:43 PM
RE: 6th Roman soldier - by Graham Sumner - 04-10-2017, 01:40 PM
RE: 6th Roman soldier - by Flavivs Aetivs - 04-10-2017, 03:59 PM
RE: 6th century AD Roman soldier - by Agaton - 04-14-2017, 08:33 AM
RE: 6th century AD Roman soldier - by Druzhina - 05-27-2017, 05:18 AM
RE: 6th century AD Roman soldier - by Agaton - 07-16-2017, 10:32 PM
RE: 6th century AD Roman soldier - by Agaton - 07-27-2017, 07:02 PM

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