09-28-2005, 05:32 PM
Quote: The text quoted says "Libyan hide". What is "Libyan hide"? Why not say hide? Why qualify it by saying "Libyan hide"? Was "Libyan hide" plain ordinary hide or hide of a special type or hide at all? Hide is hard and rigid if left in its natural form. How could a subarmalis be constructed and worn of something with bone like hardness?That's my point about DRB. The author has all kinds of 'bright' ideas, which seem good thinking at first (let's keep all those poor grunts dry) but are impractical when put to the test. Same with the scythed chariots (help, a tree hock: ) or with the 'caltrop' plumbata (plumbata et tribolata) which would of course hurt the feet of the own troops as bad as they would the enemy's. :?
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)