Legionaries fighting like Myrmillos

[Anonymous]

As im writing my thesis on the battle of Strasbourg 357 AD but am not familiar with Gladiators, I wonder if anyone can help me with this passage, Ammianus 16.12.:<br>
<br>
<em>"Suddenly there leapt forward, burning for the fight, a troop of notables which included even kings. With their men behind them they burst upon our line and forced their way as far as the legion of Primani, which was stationed at the centre of our position, in the formation which is known as 'praetorian camp'. Here our troops were drawn up in close formation and in several ranks. They stood as firm as towers and renewed the battle with increased spirit.<br>
<strong>Taking care to avoid being wounded and covering themselves like myrmillos, they plunged their swords into the barbarians' sides, which their wild rage left exposed</strong>."</em><br>
<br>
What was the fighting style of Myrmillos? Are there any quotable primary or secondary sources? And why do the Alamans expose their sides - because they use slashing spathae??<br>
I would be very thankful for any help<br>
Natuspardo <p></p><i></i>

[aitor iriarte]

Wow! I hadn't realized that quote!<br>
In short, Myrmillos fought (at least during the Imperial period) like the classical legionary, covered by a rectangular scutum and stabbing from behind it with a short gladius.<br>
The Alamanni were perhaps fighting without their shields, fencing with long swords.<br>
Taken at its face value, that quote of Ammianus could mean that rectangular shields were still in use during the second half of the fourth century!<br>
On the other hand, Ammianus was very fond of including antiquarisms in his language (for example, he uses the old good pair 'catapults and ballistas' several times and that doesn't mean that catapults were still in use or that ballistas were of the old stone-throwing kind!) and this quote could just be an embellishment, taken almost verbatim from an older source...<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Interesting when set alongside his description of Persian infantry, who "are armed like mirmillones and obey orders like horseboys" - "pedites enim in speciem mirmillonum contecti iussa faciunt ut calones" (XXIII.83) <p></p><i></i>

[John Maddox Roberts]

Murmillos are often depicted in art holding the scutum very close to the body at chin level and stabbing over or around it, exposing the arm for only a moment during the thrust. This may be what is meant by taking care not to be wounded. Even though the curved scutum was no longer in use, perhaps at this late date a very close hold was still called "murmillo style" or something of the sot. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

<img src="http://www.info-antike.de/unterhaltung/Kollosseum/Gladiatoren/Kaem3-5.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
Does the depiction of the Myrmillo on the left help?<br>
<br>
Paulus <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=paulusbrittanicus>Paulus Brittanicus</A> at: 9/7/04 4:59 pm<br></i>

[Anonymous]

I could be wrong but didn't the Mirmillones gladiator type supercede the "Gaul" type. Could this passage mean they acted like Gauls? Just an uneducated thought. I think the Mirmillones superceded the Gaul gladiator type about three hundred years before this time period. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the answers!<br>
Paulus -<br>
what can u tell me about the pic, or where can I read about it. U know, something I can quote. <p></p><i></i>

[John M McDermott]

The Romans of earlier centuries were meticulously trained in the "armatura", which emphasized precision in sword thrusts (as opposed to slashing) like the modern US Marine Corps emphasizes marksmanship.<br>
<br>
It is interesting to note this comment coming out of the 4th c., when many feel Roman military prowess had deteriorated. I take from the quote that this type of training was now only given to the elite units of the army.<br>
<br>
Why? Was it the deterioration in economic resources of the empire in later centuries that resulted in an under funded military? <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Natuspardo,<br>
<br>
The picture came from a German website www.info-antike.de/unterh...toren.html<br>
<br>
But you might also find this site useful www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/arena.html<br>
<br>
Regards<br>
<br>
Paulus <p></p><i></i>