05-21-2005, 11:33 PM
Indeed these ideas are all partly why I asked the question in the first place; clasps seem to be quite common on reconstruction baldrics, and yet the only evidence I've seen of an actual artifact is a single line drawing- which didn't have any explanation of why it was so identified.
I don't find their existence or use difficult to understand at all as one rarely rarely finds any kind of leather strap that cannot be opened along its length anywhere- it could simply be a decorative element as well (Gods know the Romans had enough of that kind of thing on their equipment)... and ESPECIALLY since intricate things with no discernablely advantageous purpose like the segmentata lobate hinges existed. I'd just hoped to find the evidence on which the assumption of their widespread use is based- it's very interesting to hear that there's little or no sculptural depiction of them. That makes me wonder how the artifacts were identified in the first place...
Matt
I don't find their existence or use difficult to understand at all as one rarely rarely finds any kind of leather strap that cannot be opened along its length anywhere- it could simply be a decorative element as well (Gods know the Romans had enough of that kind of thing on their equipment)... and ESPECIALLY since intricate things with no discernablely advantageous purpose like the segmentata lobate hinges existed. I'd just hoped to find the evidence on which the assumption of their widespread use is based- it's very interesting to hear that there's little or no sculptural depiction of them. That makes me wonder how the artifacts were identified in the first place...
Matt
See FABRICA ROMANORVM Recreations in the Marketplace for custom helmets, armour, swords and more!
