Quote:How many different patterns of segmentata is found partly in finds or depicted?
Well, from archeological finds we generally recognize Kalkriese A and B; Corbridge A and B/C; and Newstead with a couple variations of main hinge. The Stillfried girdle sections are basically Newstead but could be considered their own style, and the Iza girdle plate is similar to those but has slightly different fittings. Other Newstead-ish pieces come from Carlisle, Eining, Zugmantel, and other places. Corbridge parts are found all over the place, and pieces from Chichester could be their own variant (though they may also reflect Kalkriese construction, too!).
If you want to pick over Trajan's Column with a magnifier, you might decide you see 3 or 4 variations of segmentata there. Mike Bishop likes the later Alba Julia lorica, which really does seem to be its own animal, whereas lots of loricae seen in other 2nd to 3rd century artwork are too stylized to categorize with any real hope.
Quote:I have a suspision that the roman armies didn´t show as much confirmity as we tend to belive, maybe it´s a hollywoodism or reenactorism to think of it as uniform outfit.
Oh, I don't think reenactors are uniform in a modern sense at all! Even in any particular unit, get up close to them and you'll find that no two helmets, belts, or swords match. Sure, there may be a preponderance of segmentata, but for the first century that still seems appropriate. But we make them ourselves or get them from different manufacturers, so they're all different in their details. Some guys are wearing mail, anyway. Shields vary in size and shape, and are painted by different people even if the emblems nominally match. Generally we go by the belief that legionaries were equipped to a uniform level, but not with matching gear. But we understand that even THAT much conformity may be more than there was!
Vale,
Matthew