08-12-2008, 11:17 PM
Interesting. I have debated on if to weigh in with thoughts about the hot button topics...
Anyway..
We have the reference from Vegetius that even within Cohorts of Legions that the shield emblem would be destinctive to each unit - So why can't one cohort emblem have 'wavy' bolts, and another have 'square' or none at all or something else?
What is at least consistent between the two Mainz soldiers (thanks Marsh for posting several versions of them btw), is the "hourglass" shape and the wings. I, personally see this "hourglass" as potentially representing the Boss/Umbo itself*. The wings, thunderbolts, tabula and gamma I think are indicitive of perhaps the particular Cohorts of that Legion. (there is also those peculiar "ovals" on the top and bottom of the shield of the 'fighting soldiers' image which is interesting.)
Perhaps the single soldier, holding the item, head turned left, with sword slung to the right ~ A possibility is he belongs to the 1st Cohort, and I only guess that indicated by the one set of thunderbolts (or as they are a 'pair', 2nd cohort?). Perhaps the Tabula indicate that as well; being painted on the actual shields.
In terms of the 'quality' of the sculptures, speaking as an Artist, I'd gather the work was done either by an 'amateur' artist, an artist in a real hurry - or - not worried much about exact proportion/detail; or may have been done by a soldier in the unit who had 'passable artistic skills'. Inasmuch the same variation on the 'quality' of Nose Art from WW2 bombers. heck, even the 'kill' symbols didn't take a Picasso to paint onto an aircraft. it could also be just as well that while carving, the stone may have broken inconsistently, and given the artist some real difficulty in trying to maintain close-knit detail. But, I'm leaning more towards 'unrefined skill'.
Perspective and foreshortening are among the most difficult apsects in art, nevermind getting it to look like something recognizable. That being said, I think it is a mark of a fair degree of skill and detail to the point that those of us who see the surviving artifacts can even recognize those appearing in such detail for what they are on these sculptures which have been ravaged by a millenia of exposure, that in and of itself I think is a real mark of some skill in the first place, and I think speaks a bit louder for what some are shrugging off as "accuracy". yeah, the wings are crooked and asymetrical, but who says the painted wings on the actual shields were symetrical? But the fact we recognize them/accept them representing 'wings' in the first place is significant to what the emblem looked like.
* - Regardless of the 'hourglass' device not showing a distinct 'bulge' to represent the boss 'accurately' - the mere fact that is is in the middle of the shield, also indicated by it's asymetery I think is trying to show it in persepctive, wrapped around the curvature of the shield.
Of course, this is just all guessing. But [the artist in me] is having fun looking at these surviving treasures and thinking about what they might represent.
I'd also like to point out how cool it is their helmets have *fish* embossed on the front? Why hasn't anyone made one of those helmets yet?
Anyway..
We have the reference from Vegetius that even within Cohorts of Legions that the shield emblem would be destinctive to each unit - So why can't one cohort emblem have 'wavy' bolts, and another have 'square' or none at all or something else?
What is at least consistent between the two Mainz soldiers (thanks Marsh for posting several versions of them btw), is the "hourglass" shape and the wings. I, personally see this "hourglass" as potentially representing the Boss/Umbo itself*. The wings, thunderbolts, tabula and gamma I think are indicitive of perhaps the particular Cohorts of that Legion. (there is also those peculiar "ovals" on the top and bottom of the shield of the 'fighting soldiers' image which is interesting.)
Perhaps the single soldier, holding the item, head turned left, with sword slung to the right ~ A possibility is he belongs to the 1st Cohort, and I only guess that indicated by the one set of thunderbolts (or as they are a 'pair', 2nd cohort?). Perhaps the Tabula indicate that as well; being painted on the actual shields.
In terms of the 'quality' of the sculptures, speaking as an Artist, I'd gather the work was done either by an 'amateur' artist, an artist in a real hurry - or - not worried much about exact proportion/detail; or may have been done by a soldier in the unit who had 'passable artistic skills'. Inasmuch the same variation on the 'quality' of Nose Art from WW2 bombers. heck, even the 'kill' symbols didn't take a Picasso to paint onto an aircraft. it could also be just as well that while carving, the stone may have broken inconsistently, and given the artist some real difficulty in trying to maintain close-knit detail. But, I'm leaning more towards 'unrefined skill'.
Perspective and foreshortening are among the most difficult apsects in art, nevermind getting it to look like something recognizable. That being said, I think it is a mark of a fair degree of skill and detail to the point that those of us who see the surviving artifacts can even recognize those appearing in such detail for what they are on these sculptures which have been ravaged by a millenia of exposure, that in and of itself I think is a real mark of some skill in the first place, and I think speaks a bit louder for what some are shrugging off as "accuracy". yeah, the wings are crooked and asymetrical, but who says the painted wings on the actual shields were symetrical? But the fact we recognize them/accept them representing 'wings' in the first place is significant to what the emblem looked like.
* - Regardless of the 'hourglass' device not showing a distinct 'bulge' to represent the boss 'accurately' - the mere fact that is is in the middle of the shield, also indicated by it's asymetery I think is trying to show it in persepctive, wrapped around the curvature of the shield.
Of course, this is just all guessing. But [the artist in me] is having fun looking at these surviving treasures and thinking about what they might represent.
I'd also like to point out how cool it is their helmets have *fish* embossed on the front? Why hasn't anyone made one of those helmets yet?
Andy Volpe
"Build a time machine, it would make this [hobby] a lot easier."
https://www.facebook.com/LegionIIICyr/
Legion III Cyrenaica ~ New England U.S.
Higgins Armory Museum 1931-2013 (worked there 2001-2013)
(Collection moved to Worcester Art Museum)
"Build a time machine, it would make this [hobby] a lot easier."
https://www.facebook.com/LegionIIICyr/
Legion III Cyrenaica ~ New England U.S.
Higgins Armory Museum 1931-2013 (worked there 2001-2013)
(Collection moved to Worcester Art Museum)