New Graham Sumner\'s book

[FAVENTIANVS]

Has anybody read it?

[Caballo]

Great book which I have had for some time- STRONGLY recommended!

[Comerus Gallus]

Hi Favi & Paulus!

Some where I read that the book has some biase issue or costume problems? it is true?...

Regards

[Robert Vermaat]

New? Not very. But a great book and a great read - full of pictures. If there are problems with uniforms (which I never heard of!) it might be due to the fact that it was first published in 1997.

[Graham Sumner]

C.G.Romus Wrote:

Some where I read that the book has some biase issue or costume problems? it is true?...

I suppose that because of my connections with the Ermine Street Guard some people might accuse me of bias in the tunic colour issue. However I am also a member of the Association of Archaeological Illustrators and Surveyors (AAI&S) and therefore have a duty to be as accurate as possible.

I once joked that if I had found evidence that Roman soldiers wore yellow tunics with pink flowers on them I would have included it! Well as it turned out I had to paint a pair of trousers in those colours.

As Robert has pointed out. The book mentioned above is not new but was published in 1997. The information on tunics and other clothing will obviously be more up to date in the Osprey books.

Graham.

[john m roberts]

Got that one. Fabulous! I think some object that the crocodile hide outfit is cult regalia, not armor, but until it is proven one way or the other, I think Graham's theory is as good as anyone's. I saw hippo-hide shields in the Cairo Museum, so why not croc-hide armor?

[Comerus Gallus]

Thank u all for your comment, So I will buy one then!

[Uwe Bahr]

Avete omnes,

I can also highly recommend this book, great stuff for reading as well as for enjoying the large amount of pictures. There are some full-page color plates from the artist Graham Turner like the one at the cover and a lot of beautiful pictures from re-enactors.

BTW, some of the pictures have directly inspired tin miniature manufacturers for new releases, two examples here:

[url:14glr2q5]http://people.freenet.de/u-bahr/book%20of%20sumner.jpg[/url]

Also there are a lot of black and white paintings showing representative grave stones of Roman soldiers. But specially and for me new was a summary of the story of re-enactment beginning not only with our modern groups but already with the paintings of Alma-Tadema and others that are described critically as well as modern film productions.

Great book, Graham.

Greets - Uwe

[Comerus Gallus]

Thank you!... I just bought one copy right now! :wink:

[Caballo]

Good call to buy the book- a great source of reference, and clearly written too.
It would be great to get an updated version- particularly with latest thoughts re sub armalis and helmet padding.

Graham- any more books in the pipeline?

Re the optio picture/ model (left). I've always been suprised that his balteus dangles below the tunic. Are there any scupltures/ stele where this happens?

http://people.freenet.de/u-bahr/book%20of%20sumner.jpg

Cheers

Britannicus

[Graham Sumner]

Paulus Britannicus wrote:

Graham- any more books in the pipeline?

Hello Paulus
When I saw the thread title I thought there had been a leak! Yes I am working on one at the moment. Thanks for showing the pictures of the models they look quite spectacular.


John M Roberts wrote:

Fabulous! I think some object that the crocodile hide outfit is cult regalia, not armor, but until it is proven one way or the other, I think Graham's theory is as good as anyone's. I saw hippo-hide shields in the Cairo Museum, so why not croc-hide armor?

Hello John

I was amazed when I saw the crocodile armour on display at the British Museum for the first time when I was researching that book. It was labeled then as Roman Parade Armour! As soon as the book editor heard about the armour it had to become the feature of a painting which in turn became the front cover!

In my opinion if the suit was for cult purposes I would have thought that the headgear would have been kept to look like that of a crocodile. On the other hand perhaps I am being influenced in my way of thinking by the skins worn by standard bearers.

Nevertheless it seems odd to me that whoever fashioned the suit went to a lot of trouble to make the body look like a cuirass. There are also at least two other headpieces made from crocodile skin in Berlin I think. Both of them have cheek pieces as well as neck guards so once again the effect is more like protective armour rather than a crocodiles head.

On a less serious note a reconstructed crocodile suit of armour appears briefly and I mean briefly, in the famous 'TURTLE' sequence in the 1963 film version of Cleopatra!

Graham.

[Crispvs]

"Are there any scupltures/ stele where this happens?"

Mike Bishop's JRMES article on the military apron does not mention any depictions of the apron hanging below the 'hem' of the tunic.

Crispvs

[Jeroen Pelgrom]

I also have this book (and both of the miniatures BTW). Great book - buy it!

[Arrian]

Ah- my very first proper roman reenactment book. A great inspiration and help to us all. Particulary the reconstructed reliefs and tombstones. Those were the first access we had to depictions of the primary sources.

The introduction, with guide to various films is very nice. I wonder if the idea of a more complete and up-to-date "ancient reenactors' guide to hollywood" might be fun?

There is heavy snowfall outside, and soon my roman winter clothes are finished. All i need to do now is fabricate evidence for roman skis or snowshoes.