12-25-2005, 12:35 AM
You know, the shield dropping part of the article puzzles me too, now to think of it. I had long thought that classical style combat often tended to be more "shield-centric" than we would at first think. The division of gladiators into classes based on shield size (scutarii vs. parmularii) might be a symptom of this, and I remember an exchange I had over a year ago with Graham on the old board where he said that that seemed to be the trajectory which his gladiatorial group was heading too... So the shield dropping seems to run quite contrary to my perceptions of the gladiatorial mindset...
I also wonder if using fight books from some of the much later time periods isn't introducing a false analogy into his theory.
Just a few stray thoughts.
Have you tried any experiments along the "shield-dropping" lines with your group, Graham?
Sincerely,
A.
I also wonder if using fight books from some of the much later time periods isn't introducing a false analogy into his theory.
Just a few stray thoughts.
Have you tried any experiments along the "shield-dropping" lines with your group, Graham?
Sincerely,
A.
He who rules by fear, fears courage most!
