01-02-2014, 03:51 PM
"ἔστι δ’ ἡ Ῥωμαϊκὴ πανοπλία πρῶτον μὲν θυρεός—οὗ τὸ μὲν πλάτος ἐστὶ τῆς κυρτῆς ἐπιφανείας πένθ’ ἡμιποδίων, τὸ δὲ μῆκος ποδῶν τεττάρων, τὸ δ’ ἐπ’ ἴτυος (πάχος) ἔτι καὶ παλαιστιαῖον— ἐκ διπλοῦ σανιδώματος ταυροκόλλῃ πεπηγώς, ὀθονίῳ, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα μοσχείῳ δέρματι περιείληται τὴν ἐκτὸς ἐπιφάνειαν. ἔχει δὲ περὶ τὴν ἴτυν ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν καὶ κάτωθεν μερῶν σιδηροῦν σιάλωμα, δι’ οὗ τάς τε καταφορὰς τῶν μαχαιρῶν ἀσφαλίζεται καὶ τὰς πρὸς τὴν γῆν ἐξερείσεις. προσήρμοσται δ’ αὐτῷ καὶ σιδηρᾶ κόγχος, ἣ τὰς ὁλοσχερεῖς ἀποστέγει πληγὰς λίθων καὶ σαρισῶν καὶ καθόλου βιαίων βελῶν."
"The Roman panoply is first a thureos shield -of which the width of the curved surface is 5 half-feet, the length 4 feet, the (thickness) at the rim besides being a palaeste (1/4 feet)- made of a double planked (surface) made firm with bull-glue, a layer of linen/cloth and after these calf hide is wrapped up over the outer surface. Around the rim, on the upper and lower parts, it has an iron rim, making it safe against the downward cut of swords and to fix in the ground. An iron boss is also attached on it, which protects against the strikes of stones, sarissae spears and the very violent arrows (missiles)."
This is a practically word by word translation of the said text. Note the part about the umbo being used to stop the thrust of the pikes.
"The Roman panoply is first a thureos shield -of which the width of the curved surface is 5 half-feet, the length 4 feet, the (thickness) at the rim besides being a palaeste (1/4 feet)- made of a double planked (surface) made firm with bull-glue, a layer of linen/cloth and after these calf hide is wrapped up over the outer surface. Around the rim, on the upper and lower parts, it has an iron rim, making it safe against the downward cut of swords and to fix in the ground. An iron boss is also attached on it, which protects against the strikes of stones, sarissae spears and the very violent arrows (missiles)."
This is a practically word by word translation of the said text. Note the part about the umbo being used to stop the thrust of the pikes.
