A question for the 'Brains Trust' from my Citadel of Social Isolation:
I am trying to determine the most appropriate Roman legionary figures to use for the Palmyran period. I understand that there probably was not one exclusive armour type as older types would often remain in use as newer types were introduced. The older legions might also have taken longer to be issued new equipment. However, the Palmyran period seems to fall into a few decades when little specific is said in the sources I have read (and I have read a few of them).
Notwithstanding that there was not one definitive uniform/equipment type during the third century, I would generalise by saying that during the first half of the third century, mail (and scale?) body armour, Imperial Gallic/Italian type Helmets and the pilum and gladius were the most common equipment. By late in the century, body armour remained similar but helmets had moved to the spangelheim variety and the lighter spear and longer spatha had been adopted.
Therefore, I seek advice as to should I use Late Roman legionary figures for the Palmyran period or the earlier legionaries? I think it should be the latter for what it's worth.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
This is still probably going to be the best source for information on what we actually know - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Military-Equipment-Punic-second-ebook/dp/B01M0X7J07/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E1HBW2EI9KG5&keywords=roman+military+equipment&qid=1585464270&sprefix=roman+military+%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Military-Equipment-Punic-second-ebook/dp/B01M0X7J07/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E1HBW2EI9KG5&keywords=roman+military+equipment&qid=1585464270&sprefix=roman+military+%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1) - and this Osprey is also useful - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Roman-Legionary-AD-161-284/dp/1841766011/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1585464419&sr=8-23 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Roman-Legionary-AD-161-284/dp/1841766011/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1585464419&sr=8-23)
Thanks. I actually have the Bishop and Coulston book, although not the Cowan one. (For some reason I cannot access the Kindle version in Australia.)
So relying mainly on the first source, I think the best estimate would be to assume the archaeological finds from Dura Europos, which are dated to around 257AD, provide the best available indicator of Roman equipment in the East up to and including Aurelian's Palmyrene campaign. That would mean lorica hamata (mail) was the most common body armour but squamata (scale) was also in evidence and possibly even small amounts of sementata (plate). Helmets were still of the Imperial variety and shields included both oval and rectangular types, although the latter appear less common(?). In contrast to this concurrent mix of equipment types, the sword appears to have largely changed from the shortish gladius to the longer spatha that was now suspended on the left from a baldric.
I have spelt this out in detail in case anyone else was wondering, and to invite others who might know better to correct me.
Steve
Quote from: SteveO on March 30, 2020, 05:12:44 AM
Thanks. I actually have the Bishop and Coulston book, although not the Cowan one. (For some reason I cannot access the Kindle version in Australia.)
So relying mainly on the first source, I think the best estimate would be to assume the archaeological finds from Dura Europos, which are dated to around 257AD, provide the best available indicator of Roman equipment in the East up to and including Aurelian's Palmyrene campaign. That would mean lorica hamata (mail) was the most common body armour but squamata (scale) was also in evidence and possibly even small amounts of sementata (plate). Helmets were still of the Imperial variety and shields included both oval and rectangular types, although the latter appear less common(?). In contrast to this concurrent mix of equipment types, the sword appears to have largely changed from the shortish gladius to the longer spatha that was now suspended on the left from a baldric.
I have spelt this out in detail in case anyone else was wondering, and to invite others who might know better to correct me.
Steve
there will always be a mix in equipment for the Romans as each soldier had to buy his equipment, and chose from what was found.
Under the empire, and I think before that in the late Republic when the army was opened up to the poorest, equipment was provided to the soldiers but they had amounts deducted from their pay to cover this.
That said some personal purchase still happened as some soldiers bought themselves fancy equipment and there are will made where they bequeath some arms so these must have been their own and not the states.
As a generalisation, I think my description above still stands although I agree that the uniforms and equipment were almost certainly not as standardised as the gladiator movies would have us believe.
I have just received another book (The Army of the Roman Emperors by the German Professor, Thomas Fischer) and from my initial impressions it appears at least as good as the Coulson book although focused on the 'Imperial' period.
Not come across that one before - translated by Mike Bishop I see :)
Only £18 on Kindle - may just get it.
Actually, I bought it on Kindle first and then liked the look of it so much that I bought the hard copy. It was a lot cheaper in Australia than my usual source of Book Depositry, which was very unusual.
Found it is free on Scribd - well part of the subscription fee that is. I'll probably read it there and see if I feel the need for a hard copy :D