06-03-2005, 08:06 PM
Actually, Vegetius is just saying that the Britons call 40-oared scout ships picati, he is NOT talking about the British fleet. He is not stating anything about the British fleet specificially. Rankov (from whom I have this info) then goes on to claim that picati can both be translated as painted or as 'covered in pitch', according to him the more likely explanation.
Rankov basically tears down all contents of this particular chapter in Vegetius. I know Flavius Promotus does not agree, but there it is.
Boris Rankov, 'Now you see it, now you don't. The British fleet in Vegetius IV.37', Roman Frontier Studies 2002
Rankov basically tears down all contents of this particular chapter in Vegetius. I know Flavius Promotus does not agree, but there it is.
Boris Rankov, 'Now you see it, now you don't. The British fleet in Vegetius IV.37', Roman Frontier Studies 2002
