03-09-2008, 07:02 PM
a lil more research on the matter turned up this
the average soldier recieved 225 denarii a yr.
to feed a peasent /pleb family of four it cost apprx 150 denarii
a single soldier which i understand most were, it cost 60 denarii a yr
these are just costs in grain which is estimated 2/3 of a romans intake, i dont have figures for the actual food he likely overspent on, i mean if i want steak...... or sleeves and red dye...im going for the beef brother. the likes of my linen probably not a priority.
as i have to furnish equipment for myself and pay taxes yet.
now as to elaborate decorative equipment, seems i was pissn round the right tree as far as military gear(arms n armor) being the more importanmt stuff to dress up, beautify and the like, but the more i looked into the lay soldier...not even so much.
the earlier helmets, montefortino, coolus types and even the italics(barring the "d") were pretty bland. seems MOST armor was too.
now the artsy fartsy gauls inspired new motifs in roman equipment, and if you were a well paid praetorian or centurion, legatus and the like you might have some real elaborate armor, but im not finding were the common soldier did, in any excess.
now the pugio as ive learned was infact a hot lil item that at a particular point in romes history really demonstrated a soldiers pride and prowress, the most decorative of his items actualy, a display of his wealth/worth/rank/station etc...and then at times, it is the opinion of one michael simkins, they were all mostly unadorned and pretty much a utility knife.
so wear what ye will, spend where ye must, find with strenght and honor, revere the gods, and may victory be ours.
the average soldier recieved 225 denarii a yr.
to feed a peasent /pleb family of four it cost apprx 150 denarii
a single soldier which i understand most were, it cost 60 denarii a yr
these are just costs in grain which is estimated 2/3 of a romans intake, i dont have figures for the actual food he likely overspent on, i mean if i want steak...... or sleeves and red dye...im going for the beef brother. the likes of my linen probably not a priority.
as i have to furnish equipment for myself and pay taxes yet.
now as to elaborate decorative equipment, seems i was pissn round the right tree as far as military gear(arms n armor) being the more importanmt stuff to dress up, beautify and the like, but the more i looked into the lay soldier...not even so much.
the earlier helmets, montefortino, coolus types and even the italics(barring the "d") were pretty bland. seems MOST armor was too.
now the artsy fartsy gauls inspired new motifs in roman equipment, and if you were a well paid praetorian or centurion, legatus and the like you might have some real elaborate armor, but im not finding were the common soldier did, in any excess.
now the pugio as ive learned was infact a hot lil item that at a particular point in romes history really demonstrated a soldiers pride and prowress, the most decorative of his items actualy, a display of his wealth/worth/rank/station etc...and then at times, it is the opinion of one michael simkins, they were all mostly unadorned and pretty much a utility knife.
so wear what ye will, spend where ye must, find with strenght and honor, revere the gods, and may victory be ours.
-Jason
(GNAEVS PETRONIVS CANINVS, LEGIIAPF)
"ADIVTRIX PIA FIDELIS"
(GNAEVS PETRONIVS CANINVS, LEGIIAPF)
"ADIVTRIX PIA FIDELIS"
