Romans vs Falx

[Tarbicus]

...the manica .... a direct result of Trajan's campaigns in Dacia.

Not according to Bishop & Coulston. Sextus Valerius Severus of Legio XXII Primigenia wears a manica on his tombstone (1st C AD), and all three found manicae are probably Hadrianic and in Britain, putting them in use well after Dacia and without the need to defend against the falx.

[Matthew]

Indeed, Jim is quite right:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... 12&prev=/i

[Matthew Amt]

My manica is shown here:

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/manica.html

Works just fine! It might even be more flexible if I played around with the lining and straps some.

Yeah, it's usually best to say that it SEEMS that the Romans added some extra protection because of the Dacian falx, but those extra pieces turn up in all sorts of places where the falx was unknown. Nothing is certain!

Valete,

Matthew

[M.ilionario]

Well, I thought the manica was worn both in the outer and inner side of the arm. Being used just on the outer side explains it's comfort.
Thanks for the feedback :wink:

[size=75:2bi3ntsy]Wow, now there's a link that stretched the thread![/size]

[Tarbicus]

Being used just on the outer side explains it's comfort.

Nope. Mine goes on the inside, and it's just fine. I also have an old one for the outside and that's actually more uncomfortable, believe it or not.

[M.ilionario]

Strange....but you've tried it so you're the expert here, not me....

[Tarbicus]

Strange....but you've tried it so you're the expert here, not me....

There's actually nothing strange about it. You elbow, when bent, protrudes out. This means that an outer manica has to be able to bend more. If it is on the inside then it only needs to curve inwards when the arm is bent, which is a lot easier. When you thrust the gladius (the commonly perceived method) your inner arm is more exposed than the outer. Try doing it. Make any sense?

The manica actually covers a good part of the arm at the sides as well as just the inner part, and when thrusting it tends to be more on the top edge of the arm (the inside) which is exactly where it needs to be. Being on the outer would actually leave the arm more exposed.

[M.ilionario]

Yup, makes sense :wink: