09-13-2017, 09:41 PM
(09-13-2017, 08:20 PM)Nathan Ross Wrote: There are no catafract units in Egypt mentioned anywhere except this, as far as I know. So was it a new unit, or a colloquial reference to some other formation?
There are other catafract units and individuals mentioned in papyri but they are all later. Several numeri catafractariorum are attested in other provinces and this may be another such. However, if I am right in my contention that catafracti and catafractarii are different, this could be a unit of what would later be called clibanarii.
(09-13-2017, 08:20 PM)Nathan Ross Wrote: The use of the old rank decurion suggests that this was indeed an old-style ala.
The papyrus is dated 26 May 267, so I am not sure if the new-style ranks would have come in by then.
Michael King Macdona
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)