Phalerae

[Arminius Primus]

Ave !


Did a search on the RAT threads on Phalerae, seemed to be a lot of information on their construction, materials and sizes. Did not see any information on their meaning. For example there are multiple styles ranging from simple discs to portrayals of various deities, Was there an accepted hierarchy for these type awards such as with the crowns. Or was this simply a senior commanders prerogative as to style or form. What I am really trying to understand here is.... if their was a recognized precedence or hierarchy to the phalerae awards and what level of command was authorized to award them?

Regards from Scupi, Arminius Primus aka Al

[PhilusEstilius]

I do think that a senior soldier or senior Centurian may well have had some kind of influence on just what type or manner of pictures would be put onto some phalerae. I have reproduced the Lauersfort phalerae many times, indeed I have also reproduced the Lauersfort silvered gilt dish. Which I might add is the only copy of this dish ever to be made in silver and gold, and from having done this I would conclude that the multiple sets we see worn by centurians are possibly worn as a collective award on the part of this mans unit.

[Arminius Primus]

Ave,

Looks like thundering silence on this question. I guess if RAT members do not know anything about this ,...then the knowledge just is not out there.

Lets try a slightly different twist to this question. Was there a smaller version of phalerae for the miles. I know the torques could be awarded but was there anything beyond this??

Regards from a very warm Scupi, 35 today!

Arminius Primus, AKA Al

[Praefectusclassis]

'smaller'? Do you mean that litterally, cause the phalerae I've seen to vary considerably in size, or do you mean a lesser award?

[PhilusEstilius]

There is a book by Valerie Maxfield on Donna and various Awards, I do not have the details of this at the moment but had a little read of a copy some years ago. She covered Phalerae and other interesting stuff, it is my own belief that multiples of these worn by Centurians are simply worn on behalf of this soldiers unit. The Lauersfort appear to indicate this for a dish was found with these and carries the same name as that which appears on the Phalerae, can it be that the dish is the personal award of the Centurian and he wears the ten phalerae on behalf of his unit on parade occasions ? just a thought. However there are other sets which are worn by some Standard bearers, but then yet again these guys are of higher rank. The Lauersfort on average are around 4 inch diameter or 10-12 cm, but there were also smaller pieces which have been found, but I would say has anyone ever seen a soldier wearing a single one for I have never seen this.

[Arminius Primus]

Ave,

Not lesser awards but smaller in size.....sort of a minature of the awards worn by the centurion. This may be in line with the concept that the centurion was wearing the phalerae on the behalf of the unit. I don't think anything small like this would make it into the sculptural record. Are there any reports of something like a small ( 1 - 2 inches) phalera being recorded at one of the known camp sites?

I will try to track down the Maxfield book, any other info,..... title, printing date would be helpful.

Thanks to all,

Regards from a VERY HOT Scupi , 38 yesterday!

Arminius Primus, AKA Al

[Praefectusclassis]

Are there any reports of something like a small ( 1 - 2 inches) phalera being recorded at one of the known camp sites?

Yes. They do exist. The Xanten museum has a glass one that is about 2 inches across. However, not being able to see the back, it's hard to be sure that a decorated roundel = a phalera.

[Q. Vipsanivs Praetextatvs]

I will try to track down the Maxfield book, any other info,..... title, printing date would be helpful.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Military-Decora ... 736&sr=8-2

I think that they mean this book.

[Arminius Primus]

Ave,


Mateo , Thanks to our Legions in Hispania for the Link. Will get that ordered ASAP. E commerce is a wonderful thing!!

Regards from a slightly cooler Scupi, only 33 today , with a nice breeze

Arminius Primus, AKA Al

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

Ave,
I am not sure that an ordinary soldier could receive also phalerae. I know about armilla and torques, but I am not sure about phalerae, so can you help me about this?

If whole unit was decorated, they received their decorations on unit's signum (decorated discs, coronas etc.) I read about it, i think in the Imperial Roman Army book.

Best regards from Prague, and by the way, it is quite cold here now :-) )

P.S.
Is the book mentioned here still usable? I noticed that this book is 27 years old...

[Doc]

The Military Decorations of the Roman Army is a good book, but some things need to be read with caution.

For instance, in this book, the Lauresfort are mentioned to have been made of silvered bronze. However, in other publications the Lauresfort are mentioned to have been made of silver.

The fact of how they were made was confirmed by a RAT member (I cannot divulge the name unless the person does not mind) whom said they are in fact made of silver not silvered bronze.

[Arminius Primus]

Ave,

I obtained the Maxfield book. She covers all Dona , with a section on Phalerae. There is a general description of the types of awards ( corona, hasta, vexillium, torques, phalerae, armilae,) basis for the award and a general sense of how it developed,...and some of the perks assigned to it.

Illustrations are rather sparse. There are photos and some line drawings. There is also an analysis of dona awarded during the various periods and to which ranks. Hopefully, Ms. Maxfield had some graduate students to track down the statistical data, as that is a major task all by its self.

She had no clear idea , if the various facial depictions on Phalerae had a specific meaning and there is no mention, as I recall of the smaller sized " Phalerae"

Reading her book confirmed my opinion that the specific information about phalerae is just not out there....at least until someone discovers the records of the personell and administration section of the Roman Army.

I still think there is room for more study and books on this subject....with better graphics!

Regards from the Balkans, Arminius Primus aka Al

[PhilusEstilius]

I have read some of Valerie Maxfields' work on Phalerae and where she gives mention to the Lauersfort set I have to disagree on one point. This is where she gives info regards the names on these, she refers to the name Medami as possibly being a second owner of these phalerae. I would say this is not so for this name Medami is scratched onto all of the back plates of these pieces, my own personal opinion is that the name Medami is the craftsman who made the Lauersfort Phalerae. There is other evidence that tends to indicate this kind of situation where a name is simply scratched onto items, indeed phalerae such as the back plates from phalerae that were found at Trimontium in Scotland these all carry the name Attici scratched onto these. This clearly indicates that Medamius made the Lauersfort and Atticus made the Trimontium pieces, however very sadly the Trimontium plates are minus their pictures.