03-06-2002, 05:34 PM
Hi Sander,<br>
<br>
Interesting. Some thoughts though. Every soldier (Imp army only for arguments sakes) was expected to have the following equipment a shield, helmet, sword, and a throwing weapon could be pilum or as attested by arrian) lancea, dagger and a tunic, sandals/boots. That to me sounds regular. There is evidence for uniform appearance of shields for a unit. But why stop at the shield ? A design on a shield cannot be seen very far away, but colour can be observed at a greater distance as well as the difference between foot and horse see G.Brueggemans site.<br>
<br>
IMHO, during the period of about 14AD to 200AD the Roman army was equipped uniformly, and we could speculate that a uniform colour may have been adopted, to distinguish itself from the days of the republic (the militia army) to the future of the empire (professional army) as well as to identify friend from foe and give a visible sign of the Roman Empires power.<br>
<br>
But I also believe that as the Legionnaire campaigned his original tunic would have worn out and he would have replaced it, with either local or unit supplier.<br>
<br>
Now I agree with you that there is no strong evidence for a uniform colour for tunics, but there is also no strong evidence for multi-coloured tunic units.<br>
<br>
Yes you are correct in saying that there is evidence for a multitude of colours and that N.Fuentes points out that white seems to be the most popular colour, and that the early imp. soldier had to pay for his equipment, but this may have changed as the empire grew stronger and more money was at the disposal of the empire. We know the empire had huge armament factories - these producing manufactured equipment, suppliers of cloth were asked to supply the army with an uniformed colour tunic, which to me says regular.<br>
<br>
It is a contensious subject at best, yet we are all waiting for the next piece of evidence aand hopefully forming those jigsawed pieces into a picture of clarity.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your time and view, I dare say that many more people have different views.........<br>
<br>
Kind Regards<br>
<br>
Mark <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Interesting. Some thoughts though. Every soldier (Imp army only for arguments sakes) was expected to have the following equipment a shield, helmet, sword, and a throwing weapon could be pilum or as attested by arrian) lancea, dagger and a tunic, sandals/boots. That to me sounds regular. There is evidence for uniform appearance of shields for a unit. But why stop at the shield ? A design on a shield cannot be seen very far away, but colour can be observed at a greater distance as well as the difference between foot and horse see G.Brueggemans site.<br>
<br>
IMHO, during the period of about 14AD to 200AD the Roman army was equipped uniformly, and we could speculate that a uniform colour may have been adopted, to distinguish itself from the days of the republic (the militia army) to the future of the empire (professional army) as well as to identify friend from foe and give a visible sign of the Roman Empires power.<br>
<br>
But I also believe that as the Legionnaire campaigned his original tunic would have worn out and he would have replaced it, with either local or unit supplier.<br>
<br>
Now I agree with you that there is no strong evidence for a uniform colour for tunics, but there is also no strong evidence for multi-coloured tunic units.<br>
<br>
Yes you are correct in saying that there is evidence for a multitude of colours and that N.Fuentes points out that white seems to be the most popular colour, and that the early imp. soldier had to pay for his equipment, but this may have changed as the empire grew stronger and more money was at the disposal of the empire. We know the empire had huge armament factories - these producing manufactured equipment, suppliers of cloth were asked to supply the army with an uniformed colour tunic, which to me says regular.<br>
<br>
It is a contensious subject at best, yet we are all waiting for the next piece of evidence aand hopefully forming those jigsawed pieces into a picture of clarity.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your time and view, I dare say that many more people have different views.........<br>
<br>
Kind Regards<br>
<br>
Mark <p></p><i></i>
