03-22-2011, 08:58 AM
Proximus,
I see your argument but I would have to say that I do not think that decorated armor was only artistic. As Dan pointed out, how about helmets with decoration attested to by sculpture and real evidence?
As mentioned previously, gladiator helemts are highly decorative. Certain gladiators, as you know, also had a pectoral device which had relief figures beaten out.
Just because a decorative musculata has not been found does not suggest that they did not exist. It could be artistic lisence if you had one or two. However, when there are so many sculptures all showing similar depictions, it suggests that there is some truth.
Besides, a musculata from the imperial period has yet to be found. All the ones in existence are usually 5th - 3rd C BC albeit they do not have any relief figures. They are mostly from Greece and Southern Italy. I know because there are several at the Metropolitan museum in NYC.
Yet, everyone who portrays an elite officer of the 1stC AD, uses a musculata even though all the musculatas we have are way before this period. Using your philosophy, it is unlikely that the Romans had musculata because we only have statues of men wearing them but no actual armors have been found.
I see your argument but I would have to say that I do not think that decorated armor was only artistic. As Dan pointed out, how about helmets with decoration attested to by sculpture and real evidence?
As mentioned previously, gladiator helemts are highly decorative. Certain gladiators, as you know, also had a pectoral device which had relief figures beaten out.
Just because a decorative musculata has not been found does not suggest that they did not exist. It could be artistic lisence if you had one or two. However, when there are so many sculptures all showing similar depictions, it suggests that there is some truth.
Besides, a musculata from the imperial period has yet to be found. All the ones in existence are usually 5th - 3rd C BC albeit they do not have any relief figures. They are mostly from Greece and Southern Italy. I know because there are several at the Metropolitan museum in NYC.
Yet, everyone who portrays an elite officer of the 1stC AD, uses a musculata even though all the musculatas we have are way before this period. Using your philosophy, it is unlikely that the Romans had musculata because we only have statues of men wearing them but no actual armors have been found.
"You have to laugh at life or else what are you going to laugh at?" (Joseph Rosen)
Paolo
Paolo
