WORST armour ever!

[griffin]

The green tunic colour has been the subject of much debate. Especially that limey green. Although, there is evidence of Praetorian Guards wering green tunics and red cloaks at about the time of Nero. ( It's on a Fresco from the Domus Aurea)

One edit for subject-adjective agreement.

[jvrjenivs]

but your segmentata is really looking good! Well done!

[Crispvs]

I think that the green is fine. It is true that there is a fresco in the Domus Aurea showing a figure who may or may not be wearing an archaic Greek style panoply or may possibly (as Graham Sumner has suggested) be wearing a segmentata with copper alloy shoulder sections (the image really is not that clear) who is also wearing a green tunic. Sumner suggests that he represents a praetorian as they were the bodyguards of the emperor, which seems reasonable but if what we are led to believe is correct, praetorians would rarely be seen in armour in the city, being more likely to be seen wearing togas with their swords concealed beneath. Therefore the figure may be based on a praetorian but he could equally be based on a member of one of the urban cohorts or he could be based on a statue or picture the artist was already familiar with for all we know. All we can really be sure of is that the artist clearly did not feel that a green tunic looked inappropriate with armour. I don't know of any conclusive evidence to strongly suggest that any particular colour was associated with military tunics at the time so for the time being I would be happy to accept the Domus Aurea figure as sufficient evidence to justify you wearing a green tunic. For that matter, the shade of green you have chosen (as far as I can tell from the photo) is easily produced from a number of dyestuffs (so I am told) especially if you put a green dye over an existing yellow dye, easily produced from such things as onion skins, so it is hardly likely to have been absent from the provinces anyway.

Crispvs

[griffin]

I was following Sumner's analysis for the green tunic, and our legion wanted to do something distinctive and also plausible. I do agree with you that the lesson to be learned from the domus aurea fresco is that it is acceptable to see soldiers wearing Green in the Neronian period.

[Magnus]

Looks great Mike! Can't wait to see it tommorow.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi Paul

praetorians would rarely be seen in armour in the city, being more likely to be seen wearing togas with their swords concealed beneath.

I think the only reference to that is in the Rankov Osprey book on the Praetorians were the colour plate makes the guard look like an American Presidential secret service man. All that is missing is the ear piece to the hidden microphone as well. I think the ancient sources imply the wearing of tunic and cloak probably the paenula rather than a toga which would be rather impractical for guard duties.

There are more examples of Green tunics in ancient sources other than the image in the Domus Aurea. The most obvious being the guard in the Justinian mosaic in Ravenna.

Graham.

[Ceannt]

I thought I would update this post as I finished my armour this past week. So without any further ado, here's the armour that I made after my cardboard mock-up

You could go into the St Patrick's day parade 8)

P.S the armour does look good Nice job 8)

[griffin]

Thanks for further info on green tunics. I'm glad the armour is done and I can focus on other pieces for my re-enactment kit.

[Jona Lendering]

"Romans invented Glasses, ya know, they were adopted by a Greek inventor by the name of Spektakles, and his apprentice Biphokeles.

:lol: It reminds me of Gore Vidal's joke that "politics" is Greek, and is derived from "poly", which means "many", and "tike", which means "bloodsuckers".

[Vitruvius]

Ave to all,
Just one little question; Griffin, did you use the pizza boxes from the "Noble Roman" chain?
Salve,
Larry Mager a.k.a Vitruvius :lol: :lol:

[griffin]

I used a large pizza box from a Toronto-based company called "Mamma's Pizza." The sides were just the right height to make the shoulder guards. I could have probably made the girth hoops out of another pizza box, but I never bothered. I was too lazy, and the armour turned out ok.

If there was a pizza place called "Noble Roman", I would definitely order from them......

[A_Volpe]

I'd only suggest that the leathers get worked in a bit so the shoulders hang down more - or if you can/want to, replace them with some lighter ounce leather.

the belly plates up by your armpits look kind of wide...I'd worry about "armor pinch" with your arms going numb after a few minutes - considered shortening the plates a little to bring it in tight to your ribs.

But fantastic work! Would you post some detailed photos showing your hinges and buckles?

For the belt droop - my little trick is to take a leather thong and loop it around one of the belly bands (say 3rd up from bottom), and have the loose ends hanging on the outside of the armor - then tie those ends up over the belt to hold it up and against the armor, so it doesn't droop.

good job either way!!

[Crispvs]

If your armour is the right size for you (and your subarmalis of course) and your belt is the right size and is done up tightly enough you should not have a problem with 'belt droop'. In eleven years of marching and charging whilst wearing it, I have never had a problem with my belt coming off or drooping down and I do not feel the need to resort to using the lower tie loops to hold my belt up. My belt runs around my lowest pair of girdle plates and in this position (done up tightly enough) it helps to take much of the weight of the armour onto the hips, thus relieving the shoulders somewhat.
Remember, if your belt seems too loose and starts to droop or fall down, you should look at adjusting it so that it is the right size for you and your armour.

Crispvs

[Titvs Statilivs Castvs]

Griffin, what helmet are you wearing on the picture in your completed armour? Is that the Gallic I Aquincum type? I can't see it very well on the picture. Who made it?

[griffin]

Thanks for all the comments.

I don't have any pictures of the hinges close up, we got them from a guy in the US who has a punch for the hinge blanks.

I will try to get my belt to attach more securely to my last girdle plate.

Yes, it's an Deepeeka Gallic I Aquincum type. I got it for fairly cheap when an online dealer was getting out of roman equipment.