08-14-2013, 03:27 AM
Hello Dan
There are a few references to Roman soldiers on parade but as mentioned previously the only thing described are the specially bleached white tunics. The Arch of Titus shows soldiers celebrating the triumph over Judaea. No one involved appears to be wearing any armour.
Also during that war we have the famous account of Josephus V, 346 who describes the legionary pay parade. (Penguin translation) " In accordance with custom the soldiers removed their armour from its protective coverings and advanced in full panoply".
There are several other mentions of covers worn over equipment, such as helmets when worn in an ambush to prevent giving away the position. Indeed H.R. Russell Robinson proposed that some of the Rhineland tombstones showed Auxiliaries with covers over their mail.
A modern analogy would be Napoleonic soldiers who wore their best gear into battle but sometimes this was covered up to prevent it getting damaged or dirty. I would not have thought that Roman Soldiers could have afforded to keep another set of armour at base which was only worn on certain occasions. It would probably be stolen for one thing!
Graham.
There are a few references to Roman soldiers on parade but as mentioned previously the only thing described are the specially bleached white tunics. The Arch of Titus shows soldiers celebrating the triumph over Judaea. No one involved appears to be wearing any armour.
Also during that war we have the famous account of Josephus V, 346 who describes the legionary pay parade. (Penguin translation) " In accordance with custom the soldiers removed their armour from its protective coverings and advanced in full panoply".
There are several other mentions of covers worn over equipment, such as helmets when worn in an ambush to prevent giving away the position. Indeed H.R. Russell Robinson proposed that some of the Rhineland tombstones showed Auxiliaries with covers over their mail.
A modern analogy would be Napoleonic soldiers who wore their best gear into battle but sometimes this was covered up to prevent it getting damaged or dirty. I would not have thought that Roman Soldiers could have afforded to keep another set of armour at base which was only worn on certain occasions. It would probably be stolen for one thing!
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.
