A theory I have on the Segmentata\'s use...

[tlclark]

Not to be a complete devil's advocate, but what if weight were the main concern, and the segmentata was considered to be *light* armor?

Well since everyone is playing the devil's advocate I might as well too!

The one thing I can think of that blows the worst hole in your theory is that the Adamklissi monument clearly shows legionaries with supplemental greaves and manicae, and cross-braced helmets, wearing hamatae and squamatae. All are shown in close action with Dacians, including falx-men, and none have segmentata.

I would like to point out that the artists of the Adamklissi monument were almost certainly locals, Dacians. Considering how much we question the Column of Trajan as a reliable source of military practice -- and the artists there are Romans! -- I think we can pretty much discount most of what we see here.

Small plug for art history here, the column of Trajan and the Adamklissi monument are contemporary works, completed under Trajan (or possibly Hadrian) and yet the difference in style between the two could not be more pronounced.

The Romans, if anything, were not sticklers.

Travis