Without digressing from the main point of the thread I'm working on it ;-)
Pad saddles have a lot of advantages over fixed tree saddles, not least of which is that they are easily adjustable to fit any horse where fixed tree saddles are not.
There's also enough iconography around to support the suggestion of a lower profile saddle on a horse than a fixed tree saddle may give.
The piece of wood found at Carlisle was "tentatively" suggested as a saddle part, not proven.
:wink:
Moi Watson
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
Ah well - that may be true, but the Carlisle covers actually retained the impressions made by their frames. The piece of wood was indeed only tentatively identified, but the leathers themselves spoke volumes, including the facts that they could be removed for repairs and appeared not to have been padded (for the riders at any rate). They were also not 'sewn under' and retained large leather flaps which would have hung down between the horse's sides and the rider's legs, thus demonstrating what we are actually seeing below the saddles in the sculptures: not blankets under the saddles but flaps attached to the saddles (which presumably hide the actual blankets underlying them).
It may be true that pad saddles work well for horses, but that in itself does not constitute evidence that the Romans used them, so I ask again: where is the evidence? :wink:
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
It's still the wrong thread for the discussion and I can't put two years' research just on saddles in one post!
For the evidence, wait for the paper!
Moi Watson
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
Quote:I especially like the variation of the shield shapes, although having the same emblem.
Well, the emblem is the most used in the D.N. - as in reenactment life ... but not representing a historical unit, we changed it slightly.
Trying to show a group of Bucellari, on one hand unity is important, but also some individuality. At least it´s our interpretation of this type of soldiers ...
For our research it´s helpful to have differences in the kit to see the advantages/disadvantages of the different shapes, seams, materials, etc.
Quote: For our research it´s helpful to have differences in the kit to see the advantages/disadvantages of the different shapes, seams, materials, etc.
An excellent objective!
Moi Watson
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
Ignatius Larrasus Profuturus on patrol.
The Ascarii Seniores recently conducted a patrol in the vicinity of the route of Parpers, a secondary route of the Via Augusta. This road linking Saemproniana (today Granollers - Barcelona) with Iluro (today Mataró - Barcelona).It consisted of a 6.5 Km patrol with stops for instruction and shooting practices with a sling and javelins. You can see more photos in:
It seems that the interest in the later roman army is alive and well, quality groups mushrooming everywhere in the empire! Again new shield emblems which I have to check from the Notitia Dignitatum :wink: ...
Yes, very good. I like the way you all have a red wool strip around your helmets for unit id- very practical and (in my view) shown in the Notitia Dignitatum.
Quote:Yes, very good. I like the way you all have a red wool strip around your helmets for unit id- very practical and (in my view) shown in the Notitia Dignitatum.
Cheers
Paul
Hey, this is very interesting, never thought of that!