THE REAL ROMAN ARMY vrs. the renactments

[Tib. Gabinius]

Wow, 4 sides in less than 3 days posted and only on page 2 or 3 the internial discussions started

First of all, as i ve seen "Gladiator" the first time i had a hard time to stay in my seat and not to cry: "give me a sword and let me in".
Its a real great film with many "big" emotions, which today looks a bit of pathetic to me.

But the film dosnt show any facts either the random. Neither the historical events nor the equipment looks good. Like all the others said there are many mistakes. Perhaps i overread it, but you asked for details what was wrong at the soldiers and still no one answered.
So here are some bigger problems: Even if we accept this variation of a kind of Weissenau: in 180 a.D. the soldiers didnt wear any longer this type of helmet, some exceptions overseen. Other versions had updated the old style and new types were developed.

Which leads to the point of uniformity. The romans had a kind of "industry" cause manpower were cheap and often to have, but it wasnt a mechanical industry, so not every man in every unit of every legion had exactly the same equipment like the others. The gods will bring this fact to reenacment troops, cause the people buy their equipment and crafters or shops where they get it in different versions, qualities and so on.

The lorica (i dont accept the word segmentata to this cruelity) they use you can see e.g. here http://www.aintitcool.com/images/gladia ... n-huns.jpg
and, sorry, you also can see it in the comedy "gladiatress", where it belongs to. Shoulderguards with a kind of "six-pack"... That is absolutly incorrect.

As you can see here http://www.btinternet.com/~damian.vince ... iator.html in the 2nd battlefield picture, some guys had their swords in their own back... and this leads to the missing belt, the cingulum, a sign of their soldierstand which they were proud of till the late empire, also it looks different to the real imperial time.

I take a closer view to the clothing they wear ( i never do...) but the purple praetorians are....somewhat to purple. i cant tell you the costs of this, won out of a snail, colour. But thad would be quite to hard, espc. in that tone... all first fleet coloured it seems

So thats a short view in SOME of the problems the film had with details. And these were really only the easiest things to redo better.

You asked for the new Spartacus as well....erm....dont ask.... you wouldnt like the answer.

The HBO series "Rome" were nice to see and tried to do a lot of the things better. They come closer to the circumstances, we assume to be right.
But also this series make some big fouls and beome worse with every part.

I dont know where you live, but try to visit one renomeed group in our region and just try to discuss it personally, they can answer your questions directly and you will see all the little details make an equipment complete and good.

Some words in the end for my personal opinion.
I think, its also a question how the people expect the romans to appear and the behavior of the reenactos.
The people want to see hugh, big, hard looking man, never smiling and the words "kill" in the eyes (even in this threat i read this), and they cant compare the normal looking, often with some pounds to much, nice looking young men they see there, standing around and talking or marching up and down.
But thats one of the points why i make this hobby. Mostly i dont stand in full armor in museums. I put my weapons on, if its on schedule. Most time i present me in the used uniform for the moment to show the audience: they were people and had duties to do, not only to fight and kill others, cause this is the smallest point in their carreer, also it could be the most intersting for the listening.

On the other side its a question how you do this hobby or job. Do you just put your weapons on for two times in the year and visit an event on a museum, or do you, like the most in this forum, also some marches, training and so on.
First kind of person will look a bit of...clumsy in it, like the archer on the picture http://www.btinternet.com/~damian.vincent/archers.jpg
Second typ move natural in the equipment. I just recognize my equimpent and the problems of them if i come in an unusual situation, like to drive car with full armor e.g.

I guess this and all the many other points mentioned in this theme here take part of the view and picture woodwarrior and others have to romans.
And perhaps also the line between thos, who do larp, those who do reenactment and those between, which try to look a bit roman, call themselves romans and dont give a damn on research.