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Quote:A bit off-topic, but I was curious...what are the origins of the Scythica legion? I would assume from the name that they began as a Danube legion, but I could be wrong.
According to Lawrence Keppie ("The Making of the Roman Army from Republic to Empire"),
legio IIII Scythica was formed before AD 30 and that the name may have reflected a victory over the Scythians. Pollard & Berry ("The Complete Roman Legions") report that the legion served for most of its existence in Roman Syria and before that campaigned in Macedonia and the Balkans in general. Their Eastern service included the 1st Jewish War and the siege of Jerusalem, Trajan's Parthian campaign and the campaigns of both Caracalla and Severus Alexander against the Persians. They seem to have remained based in Northern Syria (close to the regional capital, Antioch - at Zeugma, in modern-day Turkey) until the late 3rd century at least. The
Notitia Dignitata shows them based in the 4th century AD further SE at Oresa.
In other words, it doesn't look like they served or were raised along the Danube.
Mike Thomas
(Caratacus)
visne scire quod credam? credo orbes volantes exstare.
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Caratacus that what you write in connection with IIII SCYTHICA : “In other words, it doesn't look like they served or were raised along the Danube.” is ..ridiculous. I would kindly advise you to get know more precisely the historical sources ,in another more appropriate topic.
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Well done Rado, nice kit. I do like the belts and baldrics.