Mounting an Eagle

[Anonymous]

Avete Omnes,<br>
<br>
I have a brass eagle that I need to mount. It's fairly heavy about 11" tall. Any ideas for a type of mounting?<br>
<br>
Vale,<br>
Cicero <p>[url=http://www.freewebs.com/davekufner" target="top]www.freewebs.com/davekufner[/url]</p><i></i>

[Daniel S Peterson]

Dave,<br>
most modern reconstructions show the eagle on a metal, four sided platform, though I recall one that seemed to be on a rounded platform of several steps. This suggests at least some were turned on a lathe, and therefore wood.<br>
<br>
I tend to think true Roman Legionary Aquila were meant to be impressive, and probably the size of a live eagle. Deepeeka has been working on this for nearly three years now, but I think it is almost ready.... The Legio XIIII eagle, of course!<br>
<br>
Dan <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Dan,<br>
<br>
I have an 11" Eagle which looks pretty nice. It has a bolt in the bottom of a small globe/egg thing. I was going to try and find a suitable piece of wood to attach it to. I can always paint the wood a metallic color and use gold foil on top of that.<br>
<br>
two related qs. How long should the staff be? What keeps the foot step from snapping off when placing in the ground?<br>
<br>
Dave <p>[url=http://www.freewebs.com/davekufner" target="top]www.freewebs.com/davekufner[/url]</p><i></i>

[Daniel S Peterson]

Dave,<br>
That's hard to say. There are several depicted on monuments, but the staffs may have been deliberately reduced so as to fit on the gravestone or other monument. I believe the "foot step" was also used as a handle, with the arm fully extended for comfort. So when holding it this way, the eagle and base should still be above the head of the aquilifier. If we imagine a forged iron or cast bronze foot step (though to my knowledge none have been found), I doubt it would be easily broken through normal use.<br>
<br>
Dan <p></p><i></i>