Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
The Mainz "Cenurion"
#1
I've always found the Mainz figures to be fascinating, though somewhat problematic (I believe the "fish" helmets were a recent topic of discussion). For the most part I've only seen poor quality photos of the monument, or very simple drawings, but I've always wondered about the figure holding the rope (sometimes referred to as a centurion because his sword is hanging from a baldric on the left side). However, a the photo in Robinson seems to show that the soldier is in fact standing with his back to the viewer. The backs of his knees seem to be pretty clearly carved, and the particular grip he has on the rope is inexplicable otherwise. In other words, the carving seems to show a legionary (or auxiliary) standing with his back to the viewer, holding a rope in his left hand and his shield in his right. His sword is slung behind his back, perhaps just to keep it out of the way. His head is turned at a rather extreme angle, reminiscent of the kid in The Exorcist, but it could be the sculptor just didn't want to show the back of his head.<br>
<br>
As I see it, there are only two other ways to interpret this sculpture. First, that the artist changed his mind about what he was portraying half way through the job, or second, that the soldier depicted in the sculpture suffered from the type of extreme physical defects one would normally only expect to see floating in a jar on the shelf of a medical museum.<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Reply
#2
Hi Gregg,<br>
I've got a photo of this guy, but seem unable to get the picture uploaded to my usual server. He's quite normal though, no demon in him. His right-hand indeed holds a rope - he belongs in a combination with another pedestal showing two barbarian captives - and his left the shield. The soldier looks in the direction of the prisoners, wears a crudely carved helmet and a tunic or maybe a hamata. His sword is indeed on a belt hung over his right shoulder. <p>Greets<BR>
<BR>
Jasper</p><i></i>
Greets!

Jasper Oorthuys
Webmaster & Editor, Ancient Warfare magazine
Reply
#3
Thanks Jasper, that's a load off my mind. The only photo I've seen is in Robinson and it's pretty poor quality. In that photo it sure looks like the back of the guys legs, plus on the hand gripping the rope it looks like the thumb is under the fingers. The photos of the other Mainz figures in Robinson are of somewhat better quality. But if you do have a better photo of this figure I'd really love to see it.<br>
<br>
Never actually getting to see these artifacts with my own eyes and having to rely on grainy, poor quality black-and-white photos in books can be very frustrating. For about three years I was convinced that one of the soldiers on the Domitius Ahenobarbus monument was wearing a greave because I had seen a rather close-up photo of the figures that seemed to suggest a greave was worn, even though three or four other photos of the monument I'd seen didn't seem to show this. I'm STILL not entirely convinced the greave isn't there, and probably won't be until I see a good quality close-up color photo, or actually see the monument with my own eyes...<br>
<br>
Yet another drawback of being an American working class amateur enthusiast, I guess...<br>
<br>
Thanks again,<br>
<br>
Gregg <p></p><i></i>
Reply
#4
Found a solution:<br>
<img src="http://www.cartogra.com/rs/7FB108E3-39C5-11D6-B42A-0090277A760E/screen"> <p>Greets<BR>
<BR>
Jasper</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/ujasperoorthuys.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Jasper Oorthuys</A> at: 3/17/02 6:32:33 pm<br></i>
Greets!

Jasper Oorthuys
Webmaster & Editor, Ancient Warfare magazine
Reply
#5
Come to think of it, the soldier does appear to have his back to the viewer while peering over his left shoulder, albeit at a seemingly unnatural angle. As for the attitude of the knees in this pic, he could be standing with knees slightly bent (facing the viewer) or walking away (back to viewer).<br>
<br>
Also, I'd like to know what this is...<br>
<br>
<img src="http://images.andale.com/f2/116/115/6042312/1016411920074_screena.jpg"><br>
<br>
Oops...shall I answer my own question? Is this the pommel/grip/hilt of his sword? <p><a href=http://pub45.ezboard.com/fromanarmytalkfrm6.showMessage?topicID=53.topic><u>Rules For Posting</u>






</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/uthecaesarionsection.showPublicProfile?language=EN>The Caesarion Section</A> at: 3/18/02 1:47:17 am<br></i>
Reply
#6
Nah, I don't see it. It would mean that his shield is in his right hand, his neck is twisted and his sword is on his back. It's not a great sculptor, I grant you that, be he's not that bad. <p>Greets<BR>
<BR>
Jasper</p><i></i>
Greets!

Jasper Oorthuys
Webmaster & Editor, Ancient Warfare magazine
Reply
#7
Yeah, I agree, now that I've identified the sword pommel. <p><a href=http://pub45.ezboard.com/fromanarmytalkfrm6.showMessage?topicID=53.topic><u>Rules For Posting</u>






</p><i></i>
Reply
#8
I'm glad I wasn't the only one confused by this. Part of what fooled me was that the Robinson photo seemed to show the thumb on the hand holding the rope below the fingers, which would be an impossible grip if the figure was facing the viewer. But now it just seems like the hand is damaged and you can't see the thumb at all. Funny how some details seem clearer in color, while some seem clearer in B&W.<br>
<br>
However, the legs still bother me. It looks like it could be the backs of the knees and the calves of the legs, which again would be impossible if the figure were facing the viewer.<br>
<br>
Well, for now I'll just chalk that up to another optical illusion on my part, or at worst a sculptor who had a hard time depicting the idea he wanted to convey.<br>
<br>
(BTW, thanks for sending me the photo Jasper!)<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Reply


Forum Jump: