Optio equipment

[jbd_29349]

I was just promoted to the rank of Optio Centuriae and was wondering what kind of equipment an optio would wear and carry.

I know that some of the defining features of an optio was the front-to-back crest, and feathers on either side. He also carried a hastile to keep the men in line during battle.

I am asking would he wear a segmentata, squamata, hamata, would he wear greaves/greave, would his subarmalis have ptergis. Would he have torc/torcs or even armillae? Is their any historical evidence out there?

Oh, first century early second century AD.

[mcbishop]

I was just promoted to the rank of Optio Centuriae and was wondering what kind of equipment an optio would wear and carry.

I know that some of the defining features of an optio was the front-to-back crest, and feathers on either side. He also carried a hastile to keep the men in line during battle.

I'm afraid that is just modern supposition which appears to have morphed into a factoid. There is, to the best of my knowledge, no evidence that optiones habitually wore crests of the kind you describe (although it sounds awfully like the Ermine Street Guard's optio).

I am asking would he wear a segmentata, squamata, hamata, would he wear greaves/greave, would his subarmalis have ptergis. Would he have torc/torcs or even armillae? Is their any historical evidence out there?

In short, not really. The level of detail you are seeking just does not survive in either the iconographic or documentary records. Sorry, but that's the nature of the beast.

Mike Bishop

[Magnus]

Hey Josh,

Here's me as an optio, 105 AD. I based my impression on much of Connolly's artworks:



I added some simple leather pteryges to my subarmalis...a single row to the shoulders (though I recommend 2 rows), and a double row to the bottom. The greaves are part of the defensive adaptations to our particular era and campaign, not of an optio as far as I know.

Another thing you can do is alternate the colours of your horse hair crest, depending on your group leader's preference. It's not historically supported, but it can make you stand apart.

[Luca]

I don't remember where I found it, but far I know the optio has two bird plumes on the helm sides.
The first guy in this photo should represent an optio:
http://www.cisalpina.net/main_en.asp

[Aurelianus]

Here some photos of the optio from LEG XI from Switzerland! I know him and I know that he works very serious on his equipment!!!!

[Felix Canus]

Do we have any real guess as to when the crest was added and/or deleted? Or the twin feathers?

[Tarbicus]

Do we have any real guess as to when the crest was added and/or deleted? Or the twin feathers?

No. See Mike Bishop's reply. There is no evidence for them whatsoever for optiones. It's surely just as likely that the feathers and/or crest were worn by ordinary legionaries, hence the large number of finds with crest holders attached to the helmet.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi

Mike and Jim are quite correct. Many groups have simply copied the Optio impression by the Ermine Street Guard even down to the black and white crest and leather satchel carrying writing tablets. In fact the only certain evidence we have is an optio's ring and a couple of tombstones showing Optiones with a knobbed staff. Otherwise the ESG equipment was based on the tombstone of legionary Crispus.

Graham.

[jbd_29349]

So I can do what evet I want with the approval of the Centurio, but the only thing I have to have is the hastile.

[Marcus Mummius]

So I can do what evet I want with the approval of the Centurio, but the only thing I have to have is the hastile.

Indeed

Here some photos of the optio from LEG XI from Switzerland! I know him and I know that he works very serious on his equipment!!!!

Is that a 2300euro (3000USD) sword I see him wearing ?

[Matthew Amt]

Yup, when I want to go from grunt legionary to optio, all I do is pick up my stick! I don't mind the ring concept, but what exactly is the evidence for it? I've just never run across an actual citation, and am curious.

There are grave stones showing ordinary legionaries with crests and side feathers, no mention in their careers of ever being optiones. There is also no evidence that I know of for the Romans ever using striped crests. (Too bad, cuz the Greeks used them and they ARE spiffy!)

Other than that, maybe just have a slave follow you around, carrying your tablets and paperwork and saying "Yes, optio, right away, optio!" That would be a terrific and very useful rank indicator!

Valete,

Matthew

[Matt Lukes]

The tombstone of the Optio Caecilius Avitus doesn't show anything special save for his Hastile: [url:17npztws]http://www.romanarmy.com/cms/component/option,com_imagebase/task,view/cid,97/Itemid,94/[/url]

The idea of carrying the writing tablet migh have come from here, or at least be considered to be supported by it, however similar objects in hand are seen on other soldiers' tombstones as well who weren't Optiones. I would point out that Avitus wears his sword on the right, as a regular Miles does...

[Peroni]

Isn't the optio stele above dated to the third century? :?: Graham?

I don't mind the ring concept, but what exactly is the evidence for it? I've just never run across an actual citation, and am curious.

Have a look at Connolly's Greece and Rome at War page 221.
It shows an illustration of the optios ring found at Bonn. (Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Bonn)

[Aurelianus]

Hi Jef

Is that a 2300euro (3000USD) sword I see him wearing?

Yes it is the 2300 € - Gladius from AVRIFICINA TREVERICA

It's a really nice one! But not in my price range :? wink:

I reenact just some gladiator types. It needs much less equipment which isn't that expensive (except the helmets). With a nappy your are almost equipped :lol:

At the moment I'm on the way to become a miles gregarius. It devour really a whole well fed piggy bank :?

Here the picture of the phantastic Gladius

[Marcus Mummius]

It's really pretty! I want to try to cover a pommel and guard with silverleaf too in the future for my tribune impression. Won't be easy to do I guess...