04-07-2006, 09:56 PM
I was struck yesterday while reading Ammianus' account of the battle at Argentoratum that he describes the Alamanni et al. as being physically taller and stronger than the Romans.
I had assumed that by this time (AD 357) most Roman soldiers were recruited from the fringes of the empire and that many were of Germanic origin. However, the "wild" Germans were noted as being taller and stronger than the "civilized" ones. (Note that many other Roman soldiers would be of Gallic origin or Illyrian.)
It looks like an interesting case where a similar genetic history bifurcates at some point leading to notable differences in appearance. Diet may have a lot to do with it because it seems like it has been true in a lot of commentary that barbarians are often seen as physically larger than civilized people. Caesar and Tacitus both commented on how the Germans eat only meat, which is probably why they loom as big a Texans in ancient accounts.
I had assumed that by this time (AD 357) most Roman soldiers were recruited from the fringes of the empire and that many were of Germanic origin. However, the "wild" Germans were noted as being taller and stronger than the "civilized" ones. (Note that many other Roman soldiers would be of Gallic origin or Illyrian.)
It looks like an interesting case where a similar genetic history bifurcates at some point leading to notable differences in appearance. Diet may have a lot to do with it because it seems like it has been true in a lot of commentary that barbarians are often seen as physically larger than civilized people. Caesar and Tacitus both commented on how the Germans eat only meat, which is probably why they loom as big a Texans in ancient accounts.
![[Image: artorivs-mcmlx.gif]](http://www.nhmgs.org/images/artorivs-mcmlx.gif)
[size=75:y4iezjz4]David Sullivan
Lynnwood, WA USA[/size]
