Fascia ventralis

[Pontius Agrippa]

I see a lot of reenactors who wear a fascia ventralis over the armor.
I've never seen a picture or read a description, see where it is or read.
Does anyone know of an ancient figure, where it can be seen?
How this Reenactors come up with this idea? Is there a reason?
All reliefs show the fascia ventralis always on the tunic and never over the armor.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi

I included many references and pictures to this garment in my book 'Roman Military Dress' which should answer all your questions.

Some reliefs appear to show the garment worn over mail.

Graham.

[Flavivs Aetivs]

I've often seen depictions of officers wearing it in the late era.

[Virilis]

Hi there!

I see many late roman re-enactors are using fascia ventralis under their belts. Anyhow I don't know any examples in 4-5th c. AD. So how authentic are they in a late roman context? Unfortunately I am in the woods and don't have the books of Graham at hand.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi

While I have seen a couple of late examples which could be fabric waist belts, on the great hunt mosaic from Apamea, neither has a belt worn on top. There maybe a fabric belt beneath one of the ring buckle belts seen on the 3rd century Terentius fresco but the details are not very clear. That is about it I think. However if anyone else knows any more do let us know.

Graham.

[Virilis]

Thanks Graham! Like I thought there is no definitive evidence of the usage of ventralis in a late roman context.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi Jyrki

It was suggested that the earlier version acted as a back support when wearing armour. Equally when not wearing armour the bands can be used to store items and it also protects the tunic from the metal belt. Furthermore it can add a dash of colour when worn with mail which is rather dull looking otherwise.

All these factors would be applicable in the later empire as the early. Therefore I am not sure why there is apparently no evidence, fashion perhaps or the usual fact that we have so little to go on.

However I cannot claim to have seen every source, or maybe something new has been discovered since I did my research. As you say a lot of groups use them now, in particular some of the French groups. Perhaps they might have some information or discovered a source I missed.

Graham.

[Virilis]

Thanks Graham. I just wanted to make sure that my 4th c. AD impression is not missing some vital part. Now I can roam freely without a ventralis 8+) ...

[Flavivs Aetivs]

I use a Fascia simply because I like it. Unfortunately mine is a rather dull grey, but at least chainmail stains don't show up on it.

[CM Demetrivs Medicvs]

I started using the FV about two years ago with a segmentata. As noted earlier, it protects the tunica quite well ( there's evidence of a lot of wear already on the fabric in the back). additionally keeps my tunica bloused above the knee well enough.

[Crispvs]

Don't you wear a subarmalis?

Crispvs

[Xarim]

Well, when wearing Segmentata I usually also wear a fascia on my hips.. Mainly because the segmentata I wear is not fit to my body.. I wear the subarmalis between tunics and the fascia on top of the tunic. But it's the slight extra protection from chafing that helps.

I also personally feel that wearing a fascia with a hamata helps a lot, especially if you do not wear subarmalis (which you should!). When unbelting I feel a laod dropping on my shoulders, but when removing the fascia you certainly feel extra weight dropping down. I prefer to tightly wind it around