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Are there any republican-era reenactors?
#16
Based on the reenactment threads here on RAT and from television documentaries I get the impression that France has the most Republican reenactors. There must be a group or two there who focus on that period and they do a splendid job.

But as for the U.S., I only know one or two people here in California who do Republican on the side and they have all the gear. Eventually, I plan to pursue a Republican impressson as well (hell, I plan to do all Roman periods Smile ).

~Theo
Jaime
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#17
Salveo meus frater,

I too have started my kit for a legionare of the late Republic era. It is tricky as some things translate easy and others do not. As stated equipment isnt readily available for off the shelf wear and use and information sketchy of what was worn and used. We all know that popularity drives where the time frame focus is, and most is centered on late 1st Century.

So, I am very glad that I found this thread. Most of the questions I have had about different equipment have been answered or interpreted as I have. One wavering question I still have though is the helmet, I know the montefortino was the helmet of choice, but what time frame did we start seeing more of the coolus helmets (Post Ceasar or Augustus)?

Thanks for the help in this area all!

Greg Lee
Gregorius Rotunda Rufus
"Vetus Gero"
Legio X "Equestris"
Greg Lee
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#18
Hi all,
here in Italy we are just building a reenactment group that will work only on the republican period, between the Punic Wars and the end of the Roman Republic.
The name is Decima Legio and this is the link:

[url:a0ydtxsq]http://www.sosma.it/Decima.htm[/url]

We're starting just now, and we're open to cooperation with other italian and european groups, with the aim to develop the study of this important period of the roman history.
Valete omnes.
Flavius
aka Giuseppe Cascarino
Decima Legio
Roma, Italy
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#19
Salve,

I created with some friends LEGIO I ANTIQVA, we are depicting roman Legio from the third Punic war to the Marian reform early this year after two long years of research’s.

I choose this period for many reasons, among them:

1- Being from the south of France it is at that period that the Romans settled in this area. Among other things they created the Via Domitienne (road from Spain to Italy) Narbo, and Aquae Sextiae…
2- The artifact we based our reconstructions match with this period, and believe me it is difficult to get information’s for specific items.
3- Representing this specific period permits with very few changes to also depict back to the second Punic war, and a bit after Marius reform as well. The battle of Aquae Sextiae located in reality in Pourrières being a few miles from my family house.
4- Study this period and show as well as explain to the public that the Roman soldier of the great expansion years looks quite different and lived quite differently from the first century depicted by most groups and films.

We are today 7 members, but only 3 are equipped. Although the association is based in the south of France, I live in Germany and it is open to other members. We should count one or two Germans friends among us by next year, and anybody interested is welcome as by statutes we are a European association.

All our equipment is made exclusively by Ira and Erik König from AURIFICINA TREVERICA in Germany: http://www.replik-online.de/ and homemade by us.

All the Republican equipment on their web page was made for us, and we have bought more pieces that they have not yet displayed there. I owe them a great deal for their support and their research material. I have never seen before such an incredible amount of documentation on Roman archeology.

Having said that, our goal is not to be a very large group, but that every piece of equipment we have is as authentic as the present knowledge of this period permits us to be.

Vale
AEMILIANVS / Jean-Luc
______________

Everybody thought it was impossible, then came an idiot that didn\'\'t know about it and made it !!! :wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/">http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/
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#20
Here is a picture of me taken this Week-end at Villa Borg in Germany showing details of my equipment

[Image: 00detailwebuj0.th.jpg]

Click to enlarge
AEMILIANVS / Jean-Luc
______________

Everybody thought it was impossible, then came an idiot that didn\'\'t know about it and made it !!! :wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/">http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/
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#21
[Image: completvs9.th.jpg]

Click to enlarge
AEMILIANVS / Jean-Luc
______________

Everybody thought it was impossible, then came an idiot that didn\'\'t know about it and made it !!! :wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/">http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/
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#22
Great pictures.
Can I question you about the maille clasp tho. I have been looking at the images of the Ahenobarbus Relief and they seem to go under the maille cape, and in Opsrey they are depicted as leather straps. I am making a late republican impression and I use a leather strap which works rather well. Can I ask for your reference for your clasp?
Can I also ask about your shoes as this is something that I am also currently researching.
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#23
A clasp was found, which Connolly based his painting on, just as seen on Aemilianus' hamata. It's a great impression. The clasp even had the angled slots for the buttons to hook onto (not seen in the original Connolly book - he amended it for the reprint I believe).

The only bit of the impression I'd question is the use of four buttons on the hamata, not just two.

Trust Connolly far more than Osprey.
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
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#24
Is the Ahenobarbus Relief maille fastened with leather or a hook like the one pictured above? In the relief I can see no button/studs or any other detail. Am I missing someything?
I was also led to the belief that the pilum was of the socketed type, not the flat tang? I am working on a late Roman Impression so please correct me if I am wrong.
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#25
Salve,

1 Concerning the pilum you are right, our Republican pilum is not ready yet, Erik just have the Wood ready, and I am awaiting that he have time to forge the rest. This is a pilum I borrowed from my friends of LEGIO XXII because I had left my light pilum in my car and they had closed the parc gates...

I have the correct light pilum, and when I will have the correct heavy pilum I will gladly show it to you.

As far as the fastening is concerned it is a rather special lorica I tried to reproduce. We have found evidence, and it is quite clear from the artifacts of mails I have seen that a few republican mails where made on the linothorax system, with the shoulders holding the rest of the mail on the body (no double mail thickness on the shoulders). This also imply having a large leather band holding it on top of the breast, or the mail will fall down and not stay in place correctly.

I will gladly provide more info, but right now I am on vacation in the South of France, and the lorica and all documentation is back in Germany. I will come back home on the 26 of August. My memory is not as good as to remember precisely the documentation I used, and I know gentleman's that you expect precise informations.

If anybody want to see it in real, my next Roman event will be Augusta Raurica in Switzerland last week end of August.
AEMILIANVS / Jean-Luc
______________

Everybody thought it was impossible, then came an idiot that didn\'\'t know about it and made it !!! :wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/">http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/
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#26
Thanks Aemilianus,
I am wanting to do a Late Roman republican Impression but my knowledge is very basis and I am just learning, that is why I questioned the pilum and the maille clasp.
When you are able to I would love to see a picture of the socketed pilum and information concerning the maille clasp. Can you tell me about the boots?
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#27
Salve Andy,

I am always happy to answer questions about my work, and if it helps you all the better.

I am afraid that I am not a specialist at all about late Roman, so it might be difficult to help you on that particular project, on the other hand there would be a lot of qualified person to answer you on that I am sure.

As far as my boots are concerned I have posted a reply there on the RAT already:

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... start=1560

If you need some more info I'll be glad to answer you.

Vale
Big Grin
AEMILIANVS / Jean-Luc
______________

Everybody thought it was impossible, then came an idiot that didn\'\'t know about it and made it !!! :wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/">http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/
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#28
Nice stuff Aemilianus. I've been puzzling over footwear as well for my Republican impression. Like you, I've also made a doubler fastener from metal for my hamata. I've also covered my scutum in white felt.

Some discussions I started on boots:
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?p=158487
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=20767

And Christian sarted a discussion on 2nd Punic War impressions.
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=15554
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
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#29
Quote:Nice stuff Aemilianus. I've been puzzling over footwear as well for my Republican impression. Like you, I've also made a doubler fastener from metal for my hamata. I've also covered my scutum in white felt.

Some discussions I started on boots:
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?p=158487
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=20767

And Christian sarted a discussion on 2nd Punic War impressions.
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=15554

Salve,

Hey lots of things to discuss about there.

As I am in vacation far from my documentation I will have to write from memory...

As far as the boots are concerned, Connolly advised me to take caligae, but what pattern? I don't know...

Florian Himmler and his friends from the Regensburg University in Germany told me a couple of years ago to look at Sicilian Greek vases from the period to have an idea of the design, but so far I haven't found nothing.

For the "perones" or ankle boot they follow the description you gave in the text. I found two articles and drawings about them:

One in a French book "Le cuir et la pelleterie à l'époque Romaine" by Christine Leguyoux

Second in a German book about leather shoes, but I do not have the title in my head.

The thing is that both Caligae and perones were also farmer shoes, and the fact that most soldiers of the period were of farmers origin thus make sense for these types of foot wears.

For the other subjects I will really enjoy participating at your discussion once I get back. Lots of things to compare and share ideas on.

For the fastening, I think that many systems could have been in use, but the most important is to recreate an try what works, and what is not practical.

In my opinion but I have no proof so far until I build one and test it, I am not in favor of a leather strap going under. If you do that, how can you close it on the chest? this might leave a lethal gap around the neck. I am very open minded about it and I will love to know if anybody has experimented this technique, and if it works fine.

Let's continue discussing all these great subjects and may more...

Vale,
AEMILIANVS / Jean-Luc
______________

Everybody thought it was impossible, then came an idiot that didn\'\'t know about it and made it !!! :wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/">http://www.reconstitution-romaine.com/
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#30
I like the shoes and your reasoning for that style, I may look further into these as an option.

I currently have a leather strap on my maille cape and it works fine. It is tied with sturdy leather thonging that is well hidden under the maille. This is modelled from the depictions on the Ahenobarbus Relief, where the maiile capes openings are quite wide at the upper chest, and the two ends not pulled in to meet at all, they vertually just hang straight down from the shoulders.
I have based my hamatta from this sculptural image, and I can only assume that the maille cape clasp was a leather strap or some other band of material (could have been bronze or iron) but no attachments seem visible in the images, so I can only personally assume that it was tied on with the laces hidden underneath, or rivited and the rivet heads well hidden, or that the sculptures are badly worn away.
If anybody has ANY solutions or interpretations of the maille cape clasp of the Ahenobarbus Relief I would love to know more.
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