tunics

[Anonymous]

Any book or internet site ive seen has always shown the roman army wearing a red tunic under there armour. My question did they actully wear a red tunic? was it apart of there standard milatry gear? Or is the red tunic some sort of myth?<br>
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I supose the same question could be asked about the praetorians and there supose blue tunic.<br>
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thanks <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

bump <p></p><i></i>

[Carlton Bach]

I haven't been on this board all that long myself, but something tells me this may not be a good question to ask...<br>
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<p></p><i></i>

[Praefectusclassis]

Well, the question is valid. It's just that the evidence is ambiguous in the minds of some, perfectly clear in the minds of others, with varying results for the colour of Roman military tunic. So this question can understandably lead to (and has on several occasions) vehement debate on this forum. Have you tried to look through old threads? <p>Greets<br>
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Jasper</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Okay.... in one sentance...<br>
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Yes there is good evidence for the wearing red, but also for undyed tunics, whilst other colours are also in evidence, therefore while certain colours were popular, no one colour seems to have absoloutely uniform.<br>
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Again, make the effort to check old threads on this subject, its well worth it.<br>
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P.S. i am unaware of any evidence for the praetorians wearing blue, although there are ancient references to them wearing white, hence their regimental nickname, the "candidati" <p></p><i></i>

[Crispvs]

I'll concur with Tim here. I don't believe that the Romans understood uniformity in the same way we do and with what evidence there is being either very varied, ambiguous or simply wishfull thinking, I am inclined to think that the Roman concept of uniformity is unlikely to have extended to a uniform colour for military tunics. As Tim said, some colours seem to have been popular (although this may have more to do with the availability of diestuffs) and there is evidence for the use of other colours as well. I think uniformity to the Roman military mind probably meant that every legionary in the unit had boots, tunic, cloak, military belt, body armour, helmet, gladius type sword, javelin and possibly a dagger. I doubt that they bothered overly with exact classifcations or colours, although shield blazons appear to have had unit significance.<br>
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On the subject of praetorians, I thought that they generally wore togas, these being formal wear and thus suitable for a presence at the imperial court, although doubtless they carried weapons under them. As candiates for political office wore togae candidae rubbed with pipe clay and thus whiter than the usual undyed colour, could the praetorians have adopted this practice and thus earned the nickname 'Candidati'?<br>
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Crispvs <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=crispvs>Crispvs</A> at: 12/27/04 5:52 pm<br></i>