Show here your Roman soldier impression

[A_Volpe]

Actually my question about wearing the sash over armor was meant for the Imperial period, I apologize if I did not make that more clear.

I personally, do not subscribe to doing this, as I agree with Graham there is hardly any evidence for it, even with the Vaches guy in maille. I think it's possible that what is seen and thought to be a sash, under the right arm, and between where the sword is hanging, could be a leather, or maybe fabric, gap-filler to prevent the belt from sagging too much - But of course, that's just some guesswork from looking at the images. One could stare until one's eyeballs pool out of one's head before we got anywhere closer to what it might have been.

What I have been doing is putting on my tunic, tying that up with a leather cord (I'd like to eventually replace that with a narrow cloth belt), and blouse up the tunic to the right height (Quintius Clavus can attest to how fidgety I can be with trying to get the 'curve' and pleats just right, as I try to get close to the tombstone showing a heavily pleated, pulled up high at the sides look to the tunic) - I then take my sash and wrap it around fairly tightly. It's a simple piece of wool, folded over itself once, and with the ends coming to a point (made from it being a cut-off), I've tried a variety of 'knots' and still am not decided on what works yet, so won't divulge here.

That, for the most part, takes care of my belly. I then fidget a little more bringing the under arm sides loosened out enough so they are not pulling when I move my arms. Sometimes if I feel the bottom sides are not up high enough, I'll try to tuck those up under the sash. Doesn't always work, but it's part of the overall experiment, right?

If I'm not wearing armor, the belt goes ontop of the sash. If in armor, I'll keep the sash on, it does seem to add a bit of support as well as some padding for the bottom corners of my Lor. Seggie, as those tent to find their way digging into my belly if I'm not careful.

Honestly I don't know how I got along without that sash, it does help support the belt as well as keeping the metal from said belt from cutting into your tunic or you. It also adds just a little more pizazz and color to the 'unarmored' look To me, it really makes sense.

All of this said, for the mid Imperial period (tending to focus on 69-70 CE), for what it works for in Late period, I just don't know, it's not my interest, so willing to go along with the general consensus there.

On a far off and rather unrelated note, the use of a sash seen on Cuirassier type armor in the early 1600's, was used more as a rank marker and personal ID than for much practical use - but they did sport big brightly colored sashes over their 3/4 armor. So I guess what I'm trying to say there is that people find ways to add onto kit and armor, and after a few centuries, we might lose sense as to what it was actually for. They sure knew why they were doing it.