01-23-2006, 08:29 PM
My inquiry is in two parts. The first trying to clarify a historical discrepancy I have encountered and the second is to clarify a re-enactment interest.
The Roman pillum was the standard javelin used by Roman infantry units pre-marion and post, but I have found contradicting accounts of what made them special. I know that what makes them special is the soft iron they used to make them un-usable after their first usage, they would break on impact. However, I have heard from one source that it is the head that flattens and breaks on impact making it unusable, but other sources indicate it is the shaft that breaks because of the iron it is made out of. I have seen pictures of pilla and know that the tip is actually kinda long and is connected to a wooden shaft. I am simply curious about the physics of this weapon. Is it the tip that breaks, the shaft, or the wooden section, or some silly combination of all of them?
My second question is how do you re-enacters simulate these things in combat. Ive been reading the thread about the plumbata and it all seems interesting as well as dangerous. Do you use pilla as well as plumbata? I assume its based on the period in which your attempting to re-enact, correct?
Any links or pictures or helpful talk would be appreciated. Like I said I have been confused about this for awhile now, and I figure I have finally got an opportunity to get some of these confusions fixed.
The Roman pillum was the standard javelin used by Roman infantry units pre-marion and post, but I have found contradicting accounts of what made them special. I know that what makes them special is the soft iron they used to make them un-usable after their first usage, they would break on impact. However, I have heard from one source that it is the head that flattens and breaks on impact making it unusable, but other sources indicate it is the shaft that breaks because of the iron it is made out of. I have seen pictures of pilla and know that the tip is actually kinda long and is connected to a wooden shaft. I am simply curious about the physics of this weapon. Is it the tip that breaks, the shaft, or the wooden section, or some silly combination of all of them?
My second question is how do you re-enacters simulate these things in combat. Ive been reading the thread about the plumbata and it all seems interesting as well as dangerous. Do you use pilla as well as plumbata? I assume its based on the period in which your attempting to re-enact, correct?
Any links or pictures or helpful talk would be appreciated. Like I said I have been confused about this for awhile now, and I figure I have finally got an opportunity to get some of these confusions fixed.
