03-19-2004, 03:43 PM
Very interesting discussion so far, lots of good points brought up. However, if we're talking just about the lorica segmentata, then we can't use the Battle of Carrhae as an example of Parthian bowmen decimating the legions, the lorica segmentata only was in use later in the reign of Tiberius (AD 14 to 37), Carrhae was in 53 BC. The legions would have been armoured with mail at that point, maybe augmented by pteruges at points. Regardless, the result would have been the same, it doesn't matter what the Romans were wearing, either mail or plate, the hail of Parthian arrows would have found gaps. On top of being pinned by horse-archers, it must have been pretty demoralising for the legionaries to have to just stand there and not be able to fight back! <p></p><i></i>
