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The taking of heads and scalps?
#16
Quote:Is not the fear factor instilled in the enemy, it is more of the power of the animal being transferred into the signifer/vexillarius/imaginifer and others, so as to convey the power on the troops.

So there are spiritual reasons for it? Interesting. The pelt indeed adds to their presence, I imagine it would also be considerably intimidating to fight someone wearing one. Something else I find impressive is the face-mask too.
Lorenzo Perring-Mattiassi/Florivs Virilis

COHORS I BATAVORUM M.C.R.P.F
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#17
A partial explanation (along with museum pieces) and modern reproductions at the following link:

[url:2iy29z3i]http://www.legionxxiv.org/signum/[/url]
"Fugit irreparabile tempus" (Irrecoverable time glides away) Virgil

Ron Andrea
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#18
In the Aenead, Aeneas drapes a lion pelt over his shoulders before fleeing Troy with his father. It must have had some ritual significance. Egyptian priests wore leopard pelts and the curule chair of a magistrate was often draped with pelts. The aquilifer was in charge of a deity and therefore a priest of sorts. But then, in early times the velites wore wolf pelts over their helmets.
Pecunia non olet
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#19
Quote:In the Aenead, Aeneas drapes a lion pelt over his shoulders before fleeing Troy with his father. It must have had some ritual significance. Egyptian priests wore leopard pelts and the curule chair of a magistrate was often draped with pelts. The aquilifer was in charge of a deity and therefore a priest of sorts. But then, in early times the velites wore wolf pelts over their helmets.

I would assume the Aeneas example would at least be a reference to the Herakles stories. For Herakles himself, the lion cape may have originally had some type of totemic significance, though by the classical period it was believed to have been a sort of "bullet-proof vest" for the hero.
"...atque ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant."

????? ???? ?\' ?????...(J. Feicht)
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#20
The Celts believed that the soul resided in the head, the severed human head was therefore a powerful talisman and the ultimate trophy. In a piece of recorded folk-tradition the severed head of Bran the Blessed continued talking after death and was buried near the shore facing the Continent, and so protected Britain from foreign invasion. The heads of particularly notable enemies were preserved and brought out of their cedarwood boxes for the edification of visitors on special occasions.
Martin

Fac me cocleario vomere!
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#21
Quote:Pompey's head was shown to Caesar, and Cassius' was sent to Marcus Aurelius. I always thought these particular acts was more "proof of death" instead taking a trophy. However, I think the displaying of Cicero's head (and hands) in Rome was kind of a trophy display of sorts. If generals and leaders did this sort of thing, I could imagine individual soldiers would do the same.

They also did this with Decebalus. The legionary Tiberius Claudius Maximus beheaded the Dacian king and took his head to Trajan. Then Trajan sent it all the way to Rome and had it smashed on the Gemonian Stairs :oops:
Jaida :-) <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" title="Smile" />:-)
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#22
Quote:Another suggestion: some Batavian cavalrymen may have even hung scalps from their horses' harnesses - but I don't think there is any solid evidence to support that.

Not a Batavian, but a Treviran - the Lancaster cavalry grave stele of Insus does show a head trophy..
http://www.romanarmy.com/cms/component/ ... Itemid,94/

The Kops Plateau cavalry helmet with the hair covering is woven horse hair. Two other helmets of this type have been found with preserved hair coverings. Another from Nijmegen and the third from nearby Xanten (Vetera) All of which are shown in the helmet database.
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#23
In a couple places, it was rather common to take trophy body parts of fallen enemies because it was believed that you went to the after life without said body parts, and that your ancestors would shame you in death.
Aut Inveniam Viam Aut Faciam
"I\'ll Either Find A Way Or Make One" from Hannibal

John Pruitt
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#24
And don't forget the Lancaster cavalryman?
[Image: Lancaster_tombstone.jpg]
[Image: wip2_r1_c1-1-1.jpg] [Image: Comitatuslogo3.jpg]


aka Paul B, moderator
http://www.romanarmy.net/auxilia.htm
Moderation in all things
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#25
Quote:And don't forget the Lancaster cavalryman?
Adrian beat you to it! Smile
Quote:Not a Batavian, but a Treviran - the Lancaster cavalry grave stele of Insus does show a head trophy.
posted by Duncan B Campbell
https://ninth-legion.blogspot.com/
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#26
Compared to the Samurai, the Roman taking of heads was peanuts LOL

M.VIB.M.
Bushido wa watashi no shuukyou de gozaru.

Katte Kabuto no O wo shimeyo!

H.J.Vrielink.
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#27
True Duncan, but as one who was to an extent instrumental in making sure that Insus' stele was not sold off by a greedy developer, I believe Caballo has earned the right to present it himself as well. :wink:

As to the taking of heads by Romans, in a age before photographs, television and the internet, the presentation of a well known individual's head was incontravertable proof that he had been defeated and killed. After all, a verbal report or a letter would not provide absolute proof of the fact, but his head on a plate certainly would. This is why Pompey's head was shown to Caesar, why Cicero's head was displayed in Rome, why Decabalus' head was taken to Rome and why Hasdrubal's head was shot by the Romans into Hannibal's camp.

The 'wig' from Vindolanda may also have been intended to cover a helmet and is made of hair moss. Another hair moss object from Vindolanda, identified at present as a helmet crest, may actually be another of these wigs.

Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
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#28
Quote:And don't forget the Lancaster cavalryman?
[Image: Lancaster_tombstone.jpg]


hi
What writes stelinde grave?
glad if you reply.
best regards. Smile
sebastia
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#29
Quote:What writes stelinde grave?

Translation is here... http://www.romanarmy.com/cms/component/ ... Itemid,94/

Translation: To the gods of the underworld.
Insus, son of Vodullus, citizen of the Treveri, trooper of the Ala Augusta, in the care of Victor (??). Domitia (set this tombstone up).

Inscription: DIS /
MANIBVS INSVS VODVLLI /
[fil]IVS CIVE TREVER EQVES ALAE AVG /
[t?] VICTORIS CVRATOR DOMITIA [h f c?]
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#30
It's when you read stuff like that you see they were very real people. I always grew up with a passion for the ancients, but they seemed a world away. But when you read these messages, or, for example, the tablets found at Vindolanda, that distance just dissappears.

- Lorenzo.
Lorenzo Perring-Mattiassi/Florivs Virilis

COHORS I BATAVORUM M.C.R.P.F
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