name of owner on gear

[jvrjenivs]

On various helmets I've seen that the name of the owner was punched into the neck-plate, like the for example the Coolus D 01 (Nijmegen) and Imperial Gallic I 2 (Nuremberg).

Do you think it was common to write your name on your helmet, and how about writing it on other items of your equipment, like your segmentata, pugio or gladius?

I didn't find any picture of a pugio with such mark in the resources I've checked now, so maybe some others could give their opinion and maybe some resources of other gear with marks.

[Cornelius Quintus]

Ave Jurjen,

in this thread you'll find an umbo from Schleswig/Germany, marked with the owner's name (which probably not only meant the boss, but the whole shield).

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=14787

[jvrjenivs]

Ave Jurjen,

in this thread you'll find an umbo from Schleswig/Germany, marked with the owner's name (which probably not only meant the boss, but the whole shield).

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=14787

Cool! Many thanks for the fast answer.

[Cornelius Quintus]

Ave Jurjen,

you're welcome!

Here's an ax head with an inscription which probably was a soldier's name:

http://www.legionsix.org/real_gear_3.htm (see 4th column of page).

A helmet from the Ex Axel Guttmann collection shows different names, indicating that the item served a longer period of time or at least was issued to four legionaries one after the other:

http://www.romancoins.info/f%202005%20Weisenau%203.jpg

(The names are published in detail in Junkelmann's book about the Guttmann Collection helmets.)

[Celer]

Salve,

Lets not forget the Guttman galdius! Also Feugere mentions two late-style repousse Mainz scabbards with names carefully raised on the plate, probably of the maker or dealer: The one from Strasbourg 'Q Nonienus Prude(n)s as ara(m) f(ecit)', and the one from Vindonissa 'C.Coelis Venust. Lugud' (Lugud probably refers to Lugdunum - Lyons).

Also the most famous example of all, now in the British Museum, is the near-intact horse harness from Xanten, with the name of Pliny the Elder on it. Probably doesn't mean that it was actually his, but that it was commissioned when he was in charge of the unit.

The Coolus 'E' in the BM also has four named owners, and the engraved scutum boss from Newcastle is also marked. There is also a boss with the makers stamp on the rim, again in the BM: 'Cocillus'

Vegetius also mentions that it was the habit of Roman soldiers to write their names on the front of their shields.

Vale,

Celer.