10-20-2005, 08:48 AM
Other good examples of the wavy lines are Firmus and an unnamed fragment in the Magazin at Bonn (where I saw and photographed him back in 1982). Both figures have a double border above the wavy lines (Pintaius is unfortunately damaged at the crucial point), so there are various ways of interpreting what we are seeing. One way would be to see the wavy lines as a fringe for the arming doublet, the first border the hem of the a.d., and the second border the bottom of the mail shirt. Certainly, wavy lines as a shorthand for mail on sculptures of this quality would not be my first interpretation, but one could argue that we are seeing mail worn over a tunic, with some sort of overgarment (which Robinson rather illogically hints at). As ever, you pays your money and takes your choice, squire.
Mike Bishop
Mike Bishop
