07-11-2013, 06:40 PM
Respectfully, I'd like to address some of the points in this long thread, that John has summarized in the previous post:
Two (or more) Pila into combat possibilities:
One stuck into the ground.
But if you walk forward a couple of steps to throw, which is needful to get body weight behind the throw, what then? Turn around, retrieve the pilum, then turn back around and repeat? Remember that the front three or more ranks would be throwing simultaneously. Talk about disorganization!
One held in the shield hand.
I simply can't see how that could be done with a curved scutum. I've tried it more than once, more than one way to find an easy way to do it. No luck. Incredibly difficult as it is, a pilum can be carried along with the shield, but all the weight has to be supported by the thumb, holding the pilum at right angles to the grip/weight of the shield.
Extra Pila in the cart with the Ballista
Well, fine, or in another cart (think 80 pila per century for the spares--not much room left for the ballista and operators) but the cart would not be up in the middle of the ranks, and even if it were, the passing out the pila just wouldn't be quick enough and effective enough, in my opinion, to be something that would be done. How would we suppose that these would be distributed when the line was under pressure from incoming enemies?
Extra Pila carried into battle by servants and resupplied to the Centuries as the situation allowed.
Do we have any evidence servants were even at the battle front, in the lines, carrying anything? I'd almost rather have them carry me a drink of water than another javelin..at least after a couple of hours of exertion in the sun. There were servants, mule drivers, and ballista men in the back lines, no doubt, and those who managed the carts, wagons and the supply/baggage train. They didn't go down to the front lines and abandon their carts and all the gear, did they?
I'm not griping or criticizing, honest. I just would like to see how that all works out. In my mind, it simply won't work at all, So help me see it, would you?
Two (or more) Pila into combat possibilities:
One stuck into the ground.
But if you walk forward a couple of steps to throw, which is needful to get body weight behind the throw, what then? Turn around, retrieve the pilum, then turn back around and repeat? Remember that the front three or more ranks would be throwing simultaneously. Talk about disorganization!
One held in the shield hand.
I simply can't see how that could be done with a curved scutum. I've tried it more than once, more than one way to find an easy way to do it. No luck. Incredibly difficult as it is, a pilum can be carried along with the shield, but all the weight has to be supported by the thumb, holding the pilum at right angles to the grip/weight of the shield.
Extra Pila in the cart with the Ballista
Well, fine, or in another cart (think 80 pila per century for the spares--not much room left for the ballista and operators) but the cart would not be up in the middle of the ranks, and even if it were, the passing out the pila just wouldn't be quick enough and effective enough, in my opinion, to be something that would be done. How would we suppose that these would be distributed when the line was under pressure from incoming enemies?
Extra Pila carried into battle by servants and resupplied to the Centuries as the situation allowed.
Do we have any evidence servants were even at the battle front, in the lines, carrying anything? I'd almost rather have them carry me a drink of water than another javelin..at least after a couple of hours of exertion in the sun. There were servants, mule drivers, and ballista men in the back lines, no doubt, and those who managed the carts, wagons and the supply/baggage train. They didn't go down to the front lines and abandon their carts and all the gear, did they?
I'm not griping or criticizing, honest. I just would like to see how that all works out. In my mind, it simply won't work at all, So help me see it, would you?
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
