07-29-2012, 09:00 PM
Nice impressions guys!!!
I have a comment/question. Is there some ancient steadfast rule or written text as to the nature of how close fitting or long trousers were? I mean really? So are you trying to tell me that thousands of soldiers at one period in time ALL decided that close fitting and short length trousers was the only way to dress EVERYWHERE in the empire? Then somehow someone at some point decided to loosen them up a bit?
I noticed that in reenactment there is a HUGE tendency to look at evidence and instead of reasoning it, filing it away in a compartment like mail and using each piece individually not as a whole.
I know there is evidence about certain things like clothing (I have all of Grahams books) and as some of you know, I try to stay as close to the evidence as possible......within reason. Why within reason? Because logic also plays a part when deciding certain things. To me it is illogical that because we have a scultpture or fresco here and there showing tight trousers that we are to assume that ALL legionaries wore them. Thats like saying that if a person in two thousand years from now finds a few photos of male teens in the 1980's with spiked hair, then it would be correct to assume that everyone had this hair cut.......no, logic would say this is one possibilty.
Please lets stay with the evidence BUT within logical reason. To me it is perfectly plausible if there is a variation in how "close" trousers were. The length as well...what eveidence is there that all trousers were inherently shorter? A stela..painting? Again, can anyone prove conclusively that short trousers were that way for everyone always? How is anyone supposed to know with complete assurance that these shorter trousers were not rolled up? Someone could argue that a pair has been found. Ok, but how do you know it is not for a short person or someone riding on horse. In other words, there are so many ifs on something like this that in my opionion certain judgments on other peoples kit should be reserved on things like using a Mainz blade in the 4th C AD not if pants are tight, baggy, etc.
My two cents.
I have a comment/question. Is there some ancient steadfast rule or written text as to the nature of how close fitting or long trousers were? I mean really? So are you trying to tell me that thousands of soldiers at one period in time ALL decided that close fitting and short length trousers was the only way to dress EVERYWHERE in the empire? Then somehow someone at some point decided to loosen them up a bit?
I noticed that in reenactment there is a HUGE tendency to look at evidence and instead of reasoning it, filing it away in a compartment like mail and using each piece individually not as a whole.
I know there is evidence about certain things like clothing (I have all of Grahams books) and as some of you know, I try to stay as close to the evidence as possible......within reason. Why within reason? Because logic also plays a part when deciding certain things. To me it is illogical that because we have a scultpture or fresco here and there showing tight trousers that we are to assume that ALL legionaries wore them. Thats like saying that if a person in two thousand years from now finds a few photos of male teens in the 1980's with spiked hair, then it would be correct to assume that everyone had this hair cut.......no, logic would say this is one possibilty.
Please lets stay with the evidence BUT within logical reason. To me it is perfectly plausible if there is a variation in how "close" trousers were. The length as well...what eveidence is there that all trousers were inherently shorter? A stela..painting? Again, can anyone prove conclusively that short trousers were that way for everyone always? How is anyone supposed to know with complete assurance that these shorter trousers were not rolled up? Someone could argue that a pair has been found. Ok, but how do you know it is not for a short person or someone riding on horse. In other words, there are so many ifs on something like this that in my opionion certain judgments on other peoples kit should be reserved on things like using a Mainz blade in the 4th C AD not if pants are tight, baggy, etc.
My two cents.
"You have to laugh at life or else what are you going to laugh at?" (Joseph Rosen)
Paolo
Paolo
