Ceremonial/Parade Armour Debate

[MARCVS PETRONIVS MAIVS]

Hi,

Could someone kindly point me towards the numerous debates that have probably already been had here on RAT on the subject of parade armour/ceremonial armour vs armour that actually went into battle?

I did a search on both, but all I got was mostly information on the lorica musculata (leather vs iron discussion) and some tantalising references to these discussions without actually finding them.

I am aware of the stance that tends to downplay the whole role of ceremonial armour and arms outside of the gymnasia hippika, and this is the theory I subscribe to. I just wanted to find some more in depth discussion regarding this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[jvrjenivs]

Well, this topic stays one of the things that can become quite a heated discussion, especially on RAT. I think that therefore you can't find much about it easily as some of use don't even join this discussion any longer.

As for some references, Junkelmann did discuss the issue at lenght in his book 'Reiter wie Statuen aus Erz', if I remember right. However, since that book much more arguments have been published, mostly in favour of the 'no parade armour' case.

As for some topics I could find with a quick search (don't have the time to do a proper search at the moment)

[url]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat.html?func=view&catid=17&id=284507/url]
http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat.html?fu...&id=249585
http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat.html?fu...&id=155317

[MARCVS PETRONIVS MAIVS]

Thank you Jvrjenivs for your reply.

I was aware this is a discussion that has been had many a time before, thanks for the links.

I am wondering, is there any material available on the Battersea Shield perhaps, and the chance that it may not have been purely or even entirely ceremonial? I am greatly interested in the notion that some of these items, despite their trappings and exquisite artwork, were not in fact battle worthy.

Cheers!