Barates of Palmyra

[JEaton]

I'm currently posting material on my blog which may be of use to students studying Roman Britain. Some RAT members might be interested in my discussion of Barates of Palmyra, whose tombstone at Corbridge describes him as being a vexillarius. You can read more here[url=http://drjonathaneaton.blogspot.com/2011/07/tombstone-of-regina-south-shields.html].

[PhilusEstilius]

I was always under the opinion that Barates just made Vexilum and other standards for the Romans, and the reason for his tombstone being at Corbridge was a romantic side of things where after he lost his wife Regina he moved on to Corbridge where there were Fabrica.

[JEaton]

I think the problem with Barates making standards for the army, is that realistically there can't have been much demand (certainly not enough to make a living out of it). Thinking about modern armies, units tend not to replace their standards over time as much of their unit identity is invested in them.