Roman wall painting of musculata in color from first century

[Tarbicus]

And I differ with Tarbicus' interpretation that these depictions hark back to older, Hellenistic times. Based on everything else in the mosaics - the tunics, trousers, shields, and weapons - the scene suggests to me that the art is reflecting contemporary fashions (i.e. early 5th century AD).

Besides the pictorial evidence there is physical evidence to suggest that iron musculata existed during Greeco-Roman times.

First off, Theo, thanks for posting your photos. The online ones that I'm convinced I found a segmentata in are now offline. Do you have any more photos of the mosaics, as they're far better quality than any I've seen before.

I also have to say that I don't think it's archaic armour, but contemporary. The Hellenistic style is no great surprise in some details, but I really do think it's mostly contemporary just as much later painters contemporarised Biblical scenes.

Laudes.

Here's the thread that I found very frustrating to convince anyone of the depiction of segmentata :wink: http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=12648