02-06-2001, 10:04 AM
Salve,<br>
<br>
Your comparison with the Napoleonic half pikes seems very apt to me. The use of the hastile of the optio centuriae (which was named ouragos, rearrank officer, in Greek) indeed resembles the use of the half pikes, spontoons and halberds of 18th and early 19th century NCO's very closely. The speculatores Augusti carried their lanceae (the ceremonial heads perhaps to keep in accord with the religious taboo on weaponry within the pomerium (the cohors togata hid their weapons discreetly like modern bodygueards)) with them when escorting the emperor and would use these to keep the public in line. Some of the tasks of the imperial era beneficiarii would also be akin to that of the military constabulary and that may also help explain why they used decorative rather than real spear heads.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Your comparison with the Napoleonic half pikes seems very apt to me. The use of the hastile of the optio centuriae (which was named ouragos, rearrank officer, in Greek) indeed resembles the use of the half pikes, spontoons and halberds of 18th and early 19th century NCO's very closely. The speculatores Augusti carried their lanceae (the ceremonial heads perhaps to keep in accord with the religious taboo on weaponry within the pomerium (the cohors togata hid their weapons discreetly like modern bodygueards)) with them when escorting the emperor and would use these to keep the public in line. Some of the tasks of the imperial era beneficiarii would also be akin to that of the military constabulary and that may also help explain why they used decorative rather than real spear heads.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
