Facilis Impression

[Graham Sumner]

Hi Folks

For a forthcoming article I would like to include a photograph of a reconstruction of the panoply of M. Favonius Facilis, based on his tombstone from Colchester, see RAT Imagebase.

I know there are probably lots out there but one nearest the image on the tombstone is what I am after. That is pose without helmet and with cloak vine stick, simple mail shirt without awards etc....

Please PM me if you can supply something. For what I want to illustrate it would be ideal if the impression is from the Centurio of an existing group, rather than something that is put together just for the sake of the photo. So let me know who you are and which group you are from.

This is not exactly a Facilis look-a-like beauty contest but if you do look like him it will help

Many thanks

Graham

[Tim Edwards]

The best reconstruction I have yet seen of the Facilis tombstone was an early attempt by the Gemina Project, which was printed in Dan Peterson's well known title. The centurio was a younger Paul Karremans, if I'm not mistaken.

I think just about every Early Imperial group I know in the UK has the Facilis belt somewhere in it's ranks. That said, I suspect most of our 21st century centurions have survived Facilis by at least a decade or two!

Incidentally I think the motifs on that belt have been taken too literally. For me they are just an artists representation of something that was much more complex in real life. Similar conventions can be seen on the Rhineland stelae. I'll be very surprised if anyone ever digs up such plates.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing your next interpretation of this fellow!

[Graham Sumner]

Thanks Tim

Indeed and Paul has now offered to help out.

Incidentally I think the motifs on that belt have been taken too literally. For me they are just an artists representation of something that was much more complex in real life. Similar conventions can be seen on the Rhineland stelae. I'll be very surprised if anyone ever digs up such plates.

I presume you have seen my own take on that in 'Roman Military Dress'.

Graham.

[Tim Edwards]

Of course, though I suffered a profound case of deja vu when I purchased Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier!

A strong challenge to current orthodoxy.

Well spotted for the buckle on the baldric, ties in neatly with Cripus' excellent article on the carriage of personal weapons: http://www.romanarmy.net/artweapons.htm although Facilis' gladius is slung very low on the original sculpture.

My only criticism is that the original sculptor evidently took pains to render the pteryges overlapping each other to the right.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I wondered myself if that was possibly the case with that belt.

BTW I find some of Crispus points on the baldric are perhaps a little to difinitive to be made, from the evidence he uses to support the argument.
But it is well written on most counts.