I get that we're looking at REALLY old art, and art in and of itself is also subjective and open to interpretation, but even when you call attention to what might be vambraces I personally don't see it. The perpendicular lines on the arm of the single soldier could be the edge of some manner of bracer, but the lack of real color-change suggests to me that it's a fold in the fabric, a seam-line, or a cuff. In the mass of soldiers, the image isn't large enough to get a real good look, but the soldier on the right has the same issue - no real color chnce so I'm thinking folds. The one on the left is holding a bow, so I'd believe he might have an archer's bracer on (Yes, I know it's on the wrong arm in that case - It's plausable the artist put it there just to show that hw *would* be wearing one...)
I am not sure why people are so stuck on these vambraces.......no offence Jesse since you are not the first.
We have been able to debunk time and again their use since there really is no evidence either sculptural or otherwise. I guess Hollywood has made them historical fact.
I am not discounting that there were soldiers that could have worn something on their wrists BUT to make an object part of an impression specifically is not sound.
Then why leather.....? Outside of some sort of bracelet, anything on the wrist would be cloth to wipe sweat not some leather strap. If you want fashion...armilla come to mind.
"You have to laugh at life or else what are you going to laugh at?" (Joseph Rosen)
Thanks for the input guys, I'll be sure to remove them for my next event. Would you think some sort of padded glove/wrapping for the left hand would be appropriate to avoid nasty scratches (again...) on the hand and wrist?
Maybe, but you can also try to glue some leather/sheepskin/... inside your shield where your arm rests against it. That way you won't have to bother with putting the wrappings on and off.
Valete,
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)
Here is my impression with my new Heteny-style helmet. The lamellar cuirass is not quite authentic and the spatha baldric is a bit too early for the 4th c. AD. I would also like to have better boots, too.
The lamellar cuirass is nice, albeit it's D-Plate Lamellar which didn't come into use until the Mid-6th century. Very, very difficult to find Roman Lamellar.
Actually, there are some wide Spatha baldrics that date to the 4th century AD AFAIK