02-20-2007, 07:24 PM
Right, chaps!
The 2007 event approaches and I would like to let you know what the "Rules of Engagement" are, so to speak.
Most of you pride yourselves on the authenticity of your kit, and the pictures I have seen appear to reflect this, so you should find that it already conforms to these standards, if not to higher ones. If it doesn't, please see this as an opportunity to "raise your game"!
Clothing must be of authentic materials; wool, linen or silk. Cotton may well have been available in Egypt at this time, but we can't prove its everyday use in Greece. This rule includes trim. You can get some lovely posh edging for your chitones with patterns in silver and gold, but it's nearly all man-made and looks it. Please do not use it.
Shields can be wooden or metal but not fibre-glass, please, unless you're prepared to disguise both the interior and exterior of the shield with leather or paint ( and paint can only be deemed a sufficient disguise for the outside). I've seen metal shields which have been given some kind of "bronze" coating and it doesn't look right. If you have a metal shield, please paint it with the sort of shield designs we've been discussing on RAT. I'm trying to be generous about shields because they are so hard to get hold of, but please don't bring anything that doesn't look right. I will be the final judge of this; don't make me a Rhipsaspidos!
Armour can be metal, linen or canvas (so long as it looks right) but not leather or fibre glass.
Footwear must have leather soles. Bare feet are acceptable, even for wealthy warriors, so if you can't get authentic sandals, boots or whatever, wear nothing ( on your feet!).
Leather should be vegetable-tanned (or smoke-tanned, if you have access to such material) unless you intend to paint it all over.
Please do not bring "fantasy" Greek swords.
Buckles, whether on armour, sandals or anything else should at least be brass, preferably bronze and should not have rollers. Usually, only modern steel buckles have these, anyway.
I am advised that no finds of iron Corinthian helmets are extant, therefore use none - unless you're prepared to paint the whole thing, inside and out.
If any of this causes anyone problems, please PM me. I'm not likely to change my mind, but I may be able to help you, in some way.
Some kit will be available for borrowing, but we need to know who needs what, in advance.
The 2007 event approaches and I would like to let you know what the "Rules of Engagement" are, so to speak.
Most of you pride yourselves on the authenticity of your kit, and the pictures I have seen appear to reflect this, so you should find that it already conforms to these standards, if not to higher ones. If it doesn't, please see this as an opportunity to "raise your game"!
Clothing must be of authentic materials; wool, linen or silk. Cotton may well have been available in Egypt at this time, but we can't prove its everyday use in Greece. This rule includes trim. You can get some lovely posh edging for your chitones with patterns in silver and gold, but it's nearly all man-made and looks it. Please do not use it.
Shields can be wooden or metal but not fibre-glass, please, unless you're prepared to disguise both the interior and exterior of the shield with leather or paint ( and paint can only be deemed a sufficient disguise for the outside). I've seen metal shields which have been given some kind of "bronze" coating and it doesn't look right. If you have a metal shield, please paint it with the sort of shield designs we've been discussing on RAT. I'm trying to be generous about shields because they are so hard to get hold of, but please don't bring anything that doesn't look right. I will be the final judge of this; don't make me a Rhipsaspidos!
Armour can be metal, linen or canvas (so long as it looks right) but not leather or fibre glass.
Footwear must have leather soles. Bare feet are acceptable, even for wealthy warriors, so if you can't get authentic sandals, boots or whatever, wear nothing ( on your feet!).
Leather should be vegetable-tanned (or smoke-tanned, if you have access to such material) unless you intend to paint it all over.
Please do not bring "fantasy" Greek swords.
Buckles, whether on armour, sandals or anything else should at least be brass, preferably bronze and should not have rollers. Usually, only modern steel buckles have these, anyway.
I am advised that no finds of iron Corinthian helmets are extant, therefore use none - unless you're prepared to paint the whole thing, inside and out.
If any of this causes anyone problems, please PM me. I'm not likely to change my mind, but I may be able to help you, in some way.
Some kit will be available for borrowing, but we need to know who needs what, in advance.
