01-31-2012, 09:17 PM
I would suggest that the wool material used for these tunics is a lot finer than that used by many re-enactors. Nevertheless a number of RAT members like Jim Bowers and Crispus did make some creditable attempts at recreating the style a few years ago.
It is difficult to determine how widespread the use of this draped style of tunic was, as we do not have another corpus of tombstones comparable with those from the Rhineland to make comparisons. A few contemporary tombstones exist from North Africa but they do not show this style at all, although that could be down to the fact that the sculptors do not appear to have been as competent as those in Germany.
I have wondered if the draped style fashion originated in the east and may have followed units that were transferred to Europe, such as the eastern archers Hyperanor and Pantera shown on the Rhineland sculptures. Any thoughts on that Mike?
I do not know if the tunic itself is in any way different from the rectangular Roman tunic (like a big tea bag with slits at the side for the arms) which we have complete examples of from the Hadrianic period. Certainly they would give you enough material to play with, unlike the fairly tight fitting 'T' shaped design favoured by a lot of Re-enactors. As Mike has suggested I also believe that the so called cummerbund has something to do with how the effect is achieved or at least held in place.
Ironically I have seen a lot of re-enactors wearing cummerbunds (fascia ventralis) with undraped tunics rather than draped ones although there does not seem to be any evidence for this practice. However a Vindolanda tablet mentions a ventralem which seems to suggest that they existed into Flavian times although sadly we lack the sculptural evidence from that period.
Perhaps the almost-paper is worth writing(please?)
Maybe for JRMES 17
Email sent Mike
Graham.
It is difficult to determine how widespread the use of this draped style of tunic was, as we do not have another corpus of tombstones comparable with those from the Rhineland to make comparisons. A few contemporary tombstones exist from North Africa but they do not show this style at all, although that could be down to the fact that the sculptors do not appear to have been as competent as those in Germany.
I have wondered if the draped style fashion originated in the east and may have followed units that were transferred to Europe, such as the eastern archers Hyperanor and Pantera shown on the Rhineland sculptures. Any thoughts on that Mike?
I do not know if the tunic itself is in any way different from the rectangular Roman tunic (like a big tea bag with slits at the side for the arms) which we have complete examples of from the Hadrianic period. Certainly they would give you enough material to play with, unlike the fairly tight fitting 'T' shaped design favoured by a lot of Re-enactors. As Mike has suggested I also believe that the so called cummerbund has something to do with how the effect is achieved or at least held in place.
Ironically I have seen a lot of re-enactors wearing cummerbunds (fascia ventralis) with undraped tunics rather than draped ones although there does not seem to be any evidence for this practice. However a Vindolanda tablet mentions a ventralem which seems to suggest that they existed into Flavian times although sadly we lack the sculptural evidence from that period.
Perhaps the almost-paper is worth writing(please?)
Maybe for JRMES 17
Email sent Mike
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
