04-24-2007, 05:00 PM
But like I wrote this is from Caesar's Gallic War, which was mid-1st century BC Rob- the sword baldric came into use in the latter half of the 1st century AD, 100 years or more later, yes? Or do you know of a precisely-dated tombstone that I don't?
The only centurio in the Romanarmy.com Imagebase collection showing a baldric is that of Marcus Favonius Facilis, and it's only tentatively dated to the 1st century AD- and for all we know that's because of the baldric. There's only one other in the 'legionary officer' section showing a baldric, but it's fragmentary and has no text- the presence of a 'weighted' pilum, however, suggests a rather later date since I believe the earliest-known depiction of these is the Chancellaria Relief, which is from right at the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The centurio Quintus Sertorius Festus, of Claudian date, wears his sword on his waist belt, as does Minucius Lorarius, whose tombstone is dated to about 43AD.
The only centurio in the Romanarmy.com Imagebase collection showing a baldric is that of Marcus Favonius Facilis, and it's only tentatively dated to the 1st century AD- and for all we know that's because of the baldric. There's only one other in the 'legionary officer' section showing a baldric, but it's fragmentary and has no text- the presence of a 'weighted' pilum, however, suggests a rather later date since I believe the earliest-known depiction of these is the Chancellaria Relief, which is from right at the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The centurio Quintus Sertorius Festus, of Claudian date, wears his sword on his waist belt, as does Minucius Lorarius, whose tombstone is dated to about 43AD.
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