10-05-2011, 12:09 AM
Paul,
When I wrote that I was thinking mainly of the portenteous nature of black, recalling Plutarch's mention of Crassus' choice of a black cloak prior to the Battle of Carrhae being interpreted as a bad omen, but I was also thinking of the possible difficulty of obtaining black pigments.
However, since last night I have realised that pitch, coal dust and charcoal would all do the job quite well, thus removing the impediment to painting a shield black. The possibility of it being a bad portent still bothers me a bit, but I accept that presenting your enemy with what they might interpret for themselves as a bad portent might not be such a stupid thing to do. Your point about the possibility of a dark background for stars and crescents is a good one and certainly bears further exploration to see if something similar might be found in other art. I am aware of the common practice of painting a dark blue background for stars in mediaeval art and it would be fascinating to know if this was something done in Roman art as well.
Co-incidentally, when I made four clipeii for the Leicester passion play, I ended up giving them blazons featuring crescents and stars on a blue field. Prescient or what?
Sorry about the unfinished nature of the shields in these pictures. I had a lot to do at the time and did not get time to put on the second coats of paint or proper edging. These will have to wait for next year. I wasn't able to provide caligae for the soldiers either unfortunately.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a...=1&theater
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1...=1&theater
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a...=1&theater
Crispvs
When I wrote that I was thinking mainly of the portenteous nature of black, recalling Plutarch's mention of Crassus' choice of a black cloak prior to the Battle of Carrhae being interpreted as a bad omen, but I was also thinking of the possible difficulty of obtaining black pigments.
However, since last night I have realised that pitch, coal dust and charcoal would all do the job quite well, thus removing the impediment to painting a shield black. The possibility of it being a bad portent still bothers me a bit, but I accept that presenting your enemy with what they might interpret for themselves as a bad portent might not be such a stupid thing to do. Your point about the possibility of a dark background for stars and crescents is a good one and certainly bears further exploration to see if something similar might be found in other art. I am aware of the common practice of painting a dark blue background for stars in mediaeval art and it would be fascinating to know if this was something done in Roman art as well.
Co-incidentally, when I made four clipeii for the Leicester passion play, I ended up giving them blazons featuring crescents and stars on a blue field. Prescient or what?
Sorry about the unfinished nature of the shields in these pictures. I had a lot to do at the time and did not get time to put on the second coats of paint or proper edging. These will have to wait for next year. I wasn't able to provide caligae for the soldiers either unfortunately.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a...=1&theater
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1...=1&theater
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a...=1&theater
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
