08-18-2003, 02:32 PM
As promised, a few pictures of my own plumbatae (manufactured by Len Morgan) and the way I think they possibly could have been attached to the scutum:<br>
<img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos12s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos13s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata1s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata2s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
(Enlarged pictures can be found:<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos12.jpg" target="top]Shield[/url]<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos13.jpg" target="top]Shield detail[/url]<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata1.jpg" target="top]Plumbata detail[/url]<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata2.jpg" target="top]Plumbata full lenght[/url]<br>
<br>
Of course, as stated earlier, we don't as yet know how long the shafts actually were. From what I've tried out so far, I would propose that they were attached to the right side of the shield only. Reaching for them behind the left elbow would be troublesome. Of course, if the shield was resting on the ground this problem would not occur. It could, however, be an answer to why Vegetius sets the highest number of plumbatae carried at five only. Carrying them at both sides of the hand would make a number of 4 or 6 equally possible. Maybe 5 (on the right only) would be the maximum weight before the shield would get too unstable.<br>
<br>
My two cents, anyway..<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert<br>
<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=vortigernstudies>Vortigern Studies</A> at: 8/18/03 6:12 pm<br></i>
<img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos12s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos13s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata1s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><img src="http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata2s.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
(Enlarged pictures can be found:<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos12.jpg" target="top]Shield[/url]<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/2003pos13.jpg" target="top]Shield detail[/url]<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata1.jpg" target="top]Plumbata detail[/url]<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/groep/plumbata2.jpg" target="top]Plumbata full lenght[/url]<br>
<br>
Of course, as stated earlier, we don't as yet know how long the shafts actually were. From what I've tried out so far, I would propose that they were attached to the right side of the shield only. Reaching for them behind the left elbow would be troublesome. Of course, if the shield was resting on the ground this problem would not occur. It could, however, be an answer to why Vegetius sets the highest number of plumbatae carried at five only. Carrying them at both sides of the hand would make a number of 4 or 6 equally possible. Maybe 5 (on the right only) would be the maximum weight before the shield would get too unstable.<br>
<br>
My two cents, anyway..<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert<br>
<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=vortigernstudies>Vortigern Studies</A> at: 8/18/03 6:12 pm<br></i>
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)