3rd Century AD portrayal

[Fhyn]

Greetings folks. Been doing a little research thru some of the books I have, trying to find a combination of when a spangenhelm constructon helm, lamellar body armor, mail armor and still using a rectangular scutum.

Cant remember the main book I am using, have been told is a popular one for reenactors, will add it to this once I get hom, but basically its a book on roman armor and weapons, starting from Republic times thru the Fall of Rome.

But it seems, that from what I have read, if I stick with a personna around 250 AD, it would be plausible to have that combination. But not sure how plausible, of all those elements residing in the same spot.

Anyone have any thoughts on this.

Thanks for your time

[Nathan Ross]

Hi John

250AD would be fine for the rectangular scutum - some were found at Duras Europos dated close to then - although oval would be perhaps finer...

Mail is good for just about any era (no shoulder doubling though, and probably long sleeves would be better)

Lamellar is less good - nothing attested in use by Romans before at least the 5th century, as far as I know (unless you mean scale, which would be, again, fine!)

The spangenhelm was probably used by legionary troops in the third century - some are shown on monuments (e.g. Arch of Galerius), but it's not certain whether these show special troop types rather than Roman regulars. The Der el Medineh helmet has been regarded as third century in date, although Damien Glad (French archeologist and member of Herculiani reenactment group) has dated it as 5th-6th C instead - this came up recently in a discussion here about later Roman helmets, although the matter was never really concluded...

You might like to take a look through this thread, which covers a lot of the sort of questions you've got in mind:

Recreating a 3rd Century Legionary

- Nathan

[jvrjenivs]

I think the book you're talking about is Bishop & Coulston - Roman military equipment, most referred to here as B&C2 (as per second edition).
Another book you might find interesting about later subjects is Alexandra & Gilbert - Legionnaires, auxiliaires et federes sous le Bas-Empire Romain.

Indeed, I would second Nathan's comments. Mail with long sleeves, no lamellar. If you want lamellar and spangenhelm, that is a very good combination, but you should go for a later impression.

[caiusbeerquitius]

Shield: I´d go for a oval dished scutum. The rectangular shields were IMO generally less common, especially that late.

Locked scale would also be fine, sometimes it is labelled as "lamellar":

[Virilis]

Yes, I think that the only evidence of the rectangular scutums from the mid 3th century are from Dura Europos. There were also oval scutum finds at there. I would go with the oval scutums for a third century impression...

[Peroni]

IIRC all the 'nice' shields from Dura Europos were buried without their umbones - so possibly a dedication of some kind perhaps using older iconic shields?

[caiusbeerquitius]

It´s an idea, but were there iconic shields in the Roman Army?

[Peroni]

Ok. Perhaps a better word would be 'parade' or 'special occassion'

[Fhyn]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Yep, thats the book I have, and will look at getting the other one you all mentioned.

And yes, I was thinking locked scale, which I know as lamellar would be fine also. Though to be honest, have always wanted to have a scale shirt also. Where do you guys get your scales, or for those who have them, did you make them yourselves?

Thanks

[jvrjenivs]

For a squamata, there are a couple of options, one of which is Erik Konig
A finished shirt is available though Armamentaria
Loose scales are also available, for instance via Armae

Of course you can also do it yourself, just start with buying some brass sheet and start cutting and drilling.There are several topics on here how to make scales in a faster way.

[caiusbeerquitius]

Ok. Perhaps a better word would be 'parade' or 'special occassion'

O.K. Bur do we know anything about shields made only for special occasions or parades?

[Crispvs]

As an aside, does anyone know how you would (a) do the shoulders on a locked scale armour and, (b) given that locked scale is less flexible than some other armours how would you go about making a suitable opening to allow it to be donned and how would that opening be closed? The small locking breast plates found in late second century and third century contexts would probably be fine for a third century locked scale armour but what abut the mid fourth century?

Crispvs