Roman Officer\'s Sash

[tlclark]

Avete!

Trying to put together everything we know about the Roman Officer's Sash.

Here's a couple of reference points:




Here are my questions

1) Origins

Obviously Late Hellenistic owing to images of Alexander in the famous House of the Faun mosaic. The knot is the famous Herakles knot, known from hellenistic sources and earlier as an apotropaic device. What else can be said? Are these the same sashes we see on stelae on greek funerary lekythoi? What is their history in Greek sources?

2) Materials & Construction

Just what are they made of? Wool? Linen? Silk? Presumably they could be very luxurious. Many have fringed tassles, and edged (selvages?) borders. Some seem to have "lobed" ends, that are wider than the actual sash. Are these tapestry woven? They seem to be very similar to the pteruges (at least in the post-hadrian tradition)

3) Wearing them

They do not seem to be universally worn at any time period, despite the fact that they were common from the republic forward. Why the variety?
Who could wear them and when and for what purpose? What does the sash say about the wearer? Is it fashion? Military rank or honor? Do they have a functional purpose? I suspect they aided in keeping the musculata fitted "right". How about tying them? They seem to be very particular about how the ends are tucked up under the sash, making them very long and elaborate.

Well that's enough to get started.

Thanks

Travis