08-13-2013, 06:57 PM
Hahahaha! Naah, I think some bloodyminded optio would have them scrubbing their helmets and plates and mail with sand and leather till it all shone and THEN put them in the middle where no one would notice all the elbowgrease that had gone into their appearance.
Frankly, unless we have a written source indicating there was something like parade armor for the rank and file, the whole topic is a bust from the start IMHO. For bigwigs, who never got anywhere near the frontline if they could help it (well OK maybe Vespasianus), ANY armor could be classed as parade armor.
Also, if I wanted to impress the hell out of the locals, I would indeed shine the armor, polish the hasta, gladii, spatha & pugio, give the standards a good rub en march by 8 deep in step on hobnailed shoeware looking everything an army wants to look, a well oiled, well groomed, well equipted, menacing, not taking ANY shit warmachine which at the drop of a hat could turn very, very nasty indeed.
Frankly, unless we have a written source indicating there was something like parade armor for the rank and file, the whole topic is a bust from the start IMHO. For bigwigs, who never got anywhere near the frontline if they could help it (well OK maybe Vespasianus), ANY armor could be classed as parade armor.
Also, if I wanted to impress the hell out of the locals, I would indeed shine the armor, polish the hasta, gladii, spatha & pugio, give the standards a good rub en march by 8 deep in step on hobnailed shoeware looking everything an army wants to look, a well oiled, well groomed, well equipted, menacing, not taking ANY shit warmachine which at the drop of a hat could turn very, very nasty indeed.
