04-12-2008, 07:56 AM
A scene from Claudian's De bello Gothico gives a good indication for the plume color and its particular importance for a late Roman general. It deals with Stilicho's entrance into Milan 402 after the town had been besieged by Alaric's Goths for months. Stilicho is clearly identified by his helmet. Additionally it mentions a town militia.
The relevant sentence in Latin:
apex is used for the top of a helmet, in which the plume sticks, or pars pro toto (as here) for the helmet (see e.g. Verg. Aen. 10, 270).
canities = grey/white hair
What do you think what kind of helmet Stilicho wore? Intercisa or Spangenhelmet?
The translation and Latin is from Lacus Curtius:
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... o*.html#P1
edit: you have to copy the whole link - I dont know why it isnt hyperlinked automatically- maybe a mod could help?
Quote:That very day Rome rang with the report (though none ever knew its author) that the hero had arrived, and the citizens, assured of Stilicho's protection, applauded this augury of certain victory. Who could tell of the Emperor's joy, who of the courtiers' eager greetings? From the lofty battlements we sight a distant cloud of dust and know not whether its obscurity conceals friend or foe. Suspense keeps us all in silence. Then suddenly from that dusty cloud emerged the helm of Stilicho, glittering like a star, and we recognized his gleaming white hair. Up rose the happy shout from the walls: " 'Tis he." Safe at last the crowd surges out through the gates to meet and greet the army's return. Gone for ever are our wretched impressed levies; no longer does the reaper, laying aside his sickle, try to hurl the impotent javelin, nor Ceres lay aside her harrow and, to the amusement of Bellona, essay the buckler. Stilled are the noisy wrangles of untried leaders; here is Rome's true strength, her true leader, Mars in human form.
The relevant sentence in Latin:
Quote:donec pulvereo sub turbine sideris instar emicuit Stilichonis apex et cognita fulsit canities
apex is used for the top of a helmet, in which the plume sticks, or pars pro toto (as here) for the helmet (see e.g. Verg. Aen. 10, 270).
canities = grey/white hair
What do you think what kind of helmet Stilicho wore? Intercisa or Spangenhelmet?
The translation and Latin is from Lacus Curtius:
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... o*.html#P1
edit: you have to copy the whole link - I dont know why it isnt hyperlinked automatically- maybe a mod could help?
Jens Wucherpfennig