Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: 2ndDivisionVet
The soldier at right in the portrait appears to be an approximation of a Roman soldier rather than a Herodian one .... in which case he'd be wearing traditional Judaean armor and headgear.

As a Roman, he'd be wearing (rather than as shown) a Coolus C or E helmet, in bronze, probably without crest on fatigue or garrison duty, and a dark-brown paludamentum (cloak) of semicircular pattern, in dark-brown wool, over his Gaulish-pattern thigh-length chain-mail hauberk with Greek-type shoulder doublings ("straps"). He probably wouldn't carry a pilum, but more likely a hasta longa while in garrison, and would wear a gladius Hispanus (short sword) from the right side of his swordbelt and a pugio (fighting dirk) or utility knife on the other side. He would be shod with caligae, military open-toed boots with hobnailed soles, and he would carry a semi-rectangular scutum with squared-off Augustan bottom and top, if he were a legionary, or a round or elliptical clipeus if he were an auxiliary infantryman. Underneath, he'd be wearing a subcingaculum or armored loincloth, with heavy ends hanging down fore and aft with metal studs, woven of a heavy byssos of tightly-weft linen, which would impart many of the qualities, and much of the protection against cuts and thrusts, of modern Kevlar cloth.

131 posted on 04/18/2012 8:17:11 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies ]


To: lentulusgracchus
I noticed that they incorrectly placed a Roman soldier in there, but otherwise it was the best painting I found that made my point. BTW, have you ever read any of the Casca series by the late Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, and if so, did they amuse or infuriate you?
161 posted on 04/18/2012 2:07:34 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson