10-30-2009, 05:09 PM
Sounds like a real stretch theory to me- the use of greaves suggest Centuriones rode? One really has to beware of books making statements that sound like fact but are actually simply one of countless theories- sadly few reference anything so you can't easily tell between properly supported ideas and purely theoretical ones. Plus you have to be careful about universal statements and questions- Centuriones didn't necessarily ride- surely some at least did if they had a horse, but that's as far as one could say without proper evidence.
I read the other day in Dionysius of Halicarnassus (XI. 25, 2 - 26,4) about a veteran named Siccius, who must have been a senior Centurio since he's described as "...engaged in the war against the Aequians at the head of a cohort of eight hundred men...", who had, presumably, a number of servants: "But a servant of Siccius, who was his shield bearer and a brave warrior...". Whether or not it truly means this one guy was responsible for Siccius' shield isn't clear, but it seems reasonable that Siccius wouldn't want to drag the thing around himself but would have someone who'd just give it to him right before a battle, so there's the answer to that question; also if there were such a position, surely then there'd be special grooms for caring for a horse. However, there's also a passage where the generals of the army are offering Siccius a unit to go out for a particular mission (finding a better place for the army to camp) that reads: "...for yourself there shall be a horse, on account of your age, [Siccius was a retired veteran who returned for this particular war- M.] and armour suitable for such an expidition.", suggesting that the horse was not a normal thing even for the leader of a Cohort. If Siccius had a horse for normal distance movements, there'd be no mention of it being provided for this probably short-disance trip.
I read the other day in Dionysius of Halicarnassus (XI. 25, 2 - 26,4) about a veteran named Siccius, who must have been a senior Centurio since he's described as "...engaged in the war against the Aequians at the head of a cohort of eight hundred men...", who had, presumably, a number of servants: "But a servant of Siccius, who was his shield bearer and a brave warrior...". Whether or not it truly means this one guy was responsible for Siccius' shield isn't clear, but it seems reasonable that Siccius wouldn't want to drag the thing around himself but would have someone who'd just give it to him right before a battle, so there's the answer to that question; also if there were such a position, surely then there'd be special grooms for caring for a horse. However, there's also a passage where the generals of the army are offering Siccius a unit to go out for a particular mission (finding a better place for the army to camp) that reads: "...for yourself there shall be a horse, on account of your age, [Siccius was a retired veteran who returned for this particular war- M.] and armour suitable for such an expidition.", suggesting that the horse was not a normal thing even for the leader of a Cohort. If Siccius had a horse for normal distance movements, there'd be no mention of it being provided for this probably short-disance trip.
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