05-12-2009, 04:46 AM
Well, I'll just sound a note of caution, whilst joining in the applause for Antiochus'/Steven's post.
There is the well-known description in Polybius III.6.23 "...Besides these arms the common soldiers place upon their breasts a breastplate of brass a span square, which they place over the heart and call the 'heart-protector'(pectorale]); but those who are rated above 10,000 drachmae wear instead of this a coat of mail ( called lorica)"
Clearly each man's personal wealth/worth affected his equipment. How to reconcile this? ....obviously, each man could replace his 'State Issue' gear with better equipment purchased privately, and evidently men above the level referred to often (had to?) did so. This suggests to me that in fact, as in later times, the soldier paid for his equipment by compulsory deductions from his pay. Consider also that in 207 BC, when Claudius Nero embarked on his epic march to the Metaurus to confront Hasdrubal, he was joined on the march by many retired veterans - where did their arms come from ? The answer seems to be that having purchased their arms - state issued or private - they retained them in retirement. In fact it was Hasdrubal's observation of "old shields" in the Roman ranks ( and the double trumpet call of two Consuls present) that gave the game away....
There is the well-known description in Polybius III.6.23 "...Besides these arms the common soldiers place upon their breasts a breastplate of brass a span square, which they place over the heart and call the 'heart-protector'(pectorale]); but those who are rated above 10,000 drachmae wear instead of this a coat of mail ( called lorica)"
Clearly each man's personal wealth/worth affected his equipment. How to reconcile this? ....obviously, each man could replace his 'State Issue' gear with better equipment purchased privately, and evidently men above the level referred to often (had to?) did so. This suggests to me that in fact, as in later times, the soldier paid for his equipment by compulsory deductions from his pay. Consider also that in 207 BC, when Claudius Nero embarked on his epic march to the Metaurus to confront Hasdrubal, he was joined on the march by many retired veterans - where did their arms come from ? The answer seems to be that having purchased their arms - state issued or private - they retained them in retirement. In fact it was Hasdrubal's observation of "old shields" in the Roman ranks ( and the double trumpet call of two Consuls present) that gave the game away....
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
