Lorica Segmentata???

[F. MAXIMILIANVS ITALICVS]

Hello,
Whats your opinion about this frieze?:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2VTXyU8EIs/T1...03ca+a.jpg

The 3 stripes on the body of the persons seem to be lorica segmentata, but there are no shoulderguards. Personally I dont belive leather LS could existed, so Im little bit confused about interpretation of it.

Thanks

[Hermann]

There's nothing to say the depicted item isn't made of leather, either. Unless we have further documentation of this image, whatever is depicted could be a labourer's lifting belt for all we know.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi

I think the usual interpretation is that it is a tightly worn fabric band similar if not the same as a fascia ventralis.

As the men depicted are labourers it would probably serve as a back support.

Graham.

[A_Volpe]

Awesome detail on the caligae.... mile:

If it's laborers or something similar, maybe it's a depiction of an apron of some kind, instead of the
more common (?) solid piece of material / hide of leather we're familiar with now, made up instead
of horizontal strips.
The figure on the left side, up at his neck is a V shape, I gather that could be an indication
of a neck strap to hold it up

Doesn't appear to be an indication of armor, not to my eyes.

Also, interesting that it shows long sleeves that have been rolled up.

Along the bottom edge that's been broken, it appears to look like people holding amphora
I'm guessing to pour water or some liquid onto whatever the left side figure is doing.
Almost looks like he's scrubbing something in a kind of net - Maybe it's laundry?
The leg & caligae on the right side appears to be walking underneath some kind of drying
line.

[M.VAL.BRUTUS]

Legionary Laundry Day?

This is really interesting, at first I wanted to say that this could be a fuller at work, but then there's the caligae... How prevelant was the caligae in non military Roman society

[Crispvs]

"How prevelant was the caligae in non military Roman society "

That is an impossible question to answer. However, plenty of people who survived only as plaster casts from Pompeii seem to have been wearing caligae in AD79 and there is little to suggest that they were soldiers. As this suggests use by wider society, it might be better to see the caliga not so much as a military boot, but as a boot which was found suitable for military use. In other periods there seems to have been little obvious distinction between military and non-military footwear. Might that have been the case all along?

Crispvs