03-11-2005, 03:56 PM
Tarbicus, you made my day! Don't you just love that cute helmet?<br>
It would be great news indeed if Mr Vagalinsky of Archaeologia Bulgarica could show solid evidence of a bronze segmentata. What I find odd is that the only ones found yet are made of iron. And since bronze resists far better than iron the passing of time, I wonder why no bronze segmentata was ever found.<br>
Moreover, a great number of bronze fittings for segmentata --obviously made of iron-- have been found. How come no shoulder piece, or girdle loop made of bronze was ever found?<br>
No one said the ancients did not use organic materials as a protection. A leather piece of lamellar was found at Dura, A leather cheek guard was found assciated with a Celtic helmet, the Sarmatians used armour of hardened leather or horn, the Greeks used the linothorax and also the quilted armour and this last type is still represented on late imperial sculptures.<br>
However, I still do not fathom how Graham Summer saw a praetorian wearing a bronze segmentata in the painting shown above.<br>
As for the "phalangite", it is based, I think, on no evidence at all.<br>
A more likely explanation for the "phalangite" is the introduction about that time of a new type of heavy infantryman fighting with a long spear in close order beside a shield wall, contrary to the previous pilum/gladius tactic which naturally demanded a looser order. <p></p><i></i>
It would be great news indeed if Mr Vagalinsky of Archaeologia Bulgarica could show solid evidence of a bronze segmentata. What I find odd is that the only ones found yet are made of iron. And since bronze resists far better than iron the passing of time, I wonder why no bronze segmentata was ever found.<br>
Moreover, a great number of bronze fittings for segmentata --obviously made of iron-- have been found. How come no shoulder piece, or girdle loop made of bronze was ever found?<br>
No one said the ancients did not use organic materials as a protection. A leather piece of lamellar was found at Dura, A leather cheek guard was found assciated with a Celtic helmet, the Sarmatians used armour of hardened leather or horn, the Greeks used the linothorax and also the quilted armour and this last type is still represented on late imperial sculptures.<br>
However, I still do not fathom how Graham Summer saw a praetorian wearing a bronze segmentata in the painting shown above.<br>
As for the "phalangite", it is based, I think, on no evidence at all.<br>
A more likely explanation for the "phalangite" is the introduction about that time of a new type of heavy infantryman fighting with a long spear in close order beside a shield wall, contrary to the previous pilum/gladius tactic which naturally demanded a looser order. <p></p><i></i>
