08-27-2015, 06:45 PM
The reconstruction shown in Dan Peterson's book is based on an interpretation of a series of reliefs from Arlon dating to the mid first century AD, which show cavalry.
http://home.arcor.de/berzelmayr/junkel-2.jpg
The shoulder detail has been interpreted by some as segmentata shoulder pieces, due to its superficial resemblance to the latter. However, if it is meant to represent segmentata, then we must ask why only three plates are shown on each shoulder, when the physical evidence for segmentata indicates that there should be five. Personally, based on comparisons with cavalry stelae from Britain and the Rhineland, I favour Mike Bishop's interpretation in Lorica Segmentata 1, where he suggests that they are actually intended to represent mail shoulder doubling which features the folded over 'collar' (the inner 'plate') so often seen on the stelae, with a crude representation of the leather edging of the doubling (the outer 'plate').
There is little doubt that it is possible to attach segmentata shoulders to a mail shirt, but the question is: is that what the Romans did? With the sole piece of evidence for it being so open to interpretation, I feel it is something we might still debate, but should certainly refrain from reconstructing and showing to the public as a possibility which they would assume was a fact.
Crispvs
http://home.arcor.de/berzelmayr/junkel-2.jpg
The shoulder detail has been interpreted by some as segmentata shoulder pieces, due to its superficial resemblance to the latter. However, if it is meant to represent segmentata, then we must ask why only three plates are shown on each shoulder, when the physical evidence for segmentata indicates that there should be five. Personally, based on comparisons with cavalry stelae from Britain and the Rhineland, I favour Mike Bishop's interpretation in Lorica Segmentata 1, where he suggests that they are actually intended to represent mail shoulder doubling which features the folded over 'collar' (the inner 'plate') so often seen on the stelae, with a crude representation of the leather edging of the doubling (the outer 'plate').
There is little doubt that it is possible to attach segmentata shoulders to a mail shirt, but the question is: is that what the Romans did? With the sole piece of evidence for it being so open to interpretation, I feel it is something we might still debate, but should certainly refrain from reconstructing and showing to the public as a possibility which they would assume was a fact.
Crispvs
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