Shield cover depicted on monument??

[Peroni]

Whilst recently viewing the casts of Trajan's Column at the EUR I spotted a couple of shields that appeared to have designs painted on the inner face. (Harder to see on the real monument)

The one on the far right is a wave pattern with an oval shape beneath each wave. The edge of the shield is also clearly defined. The soldier next to him also appeared to have a design too, but on closer insopection, the shield's edge was not defined, and it looks for all the world like a skin or cover that is stretched and tied behind the shield. I have highlighted the cover with a little colour to explain...

Anyone else noticed this before?



With shading and added tie string..

[Gaius Decius Aquilius]

Thank you for pointing this feature out. This does seem the most likely interpretation of the feature.

Playing academic dweeb, let me ask if it appears on any more shield interiors in the same form? Since the Dura shields were painted on the interior there exists the possibility of interior designs in this period also.

Also, Adrian... that dark pink... how could you do this too us?

R. Izard
dweeb

[Peroni]

Dark pink = faded madder! :wink:

Most of the shields are shown face out on the monument, but I will scan the other pictures I took of the casts to see if there are more like this.

[Marcus_Ulpius_Trajanus]

Interesting.

What scene from the column is that from? What are the Auxilia doing?

[Peroni]

I will find out this evening and post.. :wink:

[Caballo]

I think the interpretation as a shield cover is correct- the irregularity of the design and the deeper relief compared to the internal decoration on the other shield.

The identification of both the shield cover and the internal decoration are AFAIK firsts for the 1st / second century- laudes!

Cheers

Ccballo

[Hibernicus]

It's also rather interesting that his hands are poised as if holding a thrusting spear/pike...

[Gaius Decius Aquilius]

Dark pink = faded madder! :wink:

Doesn't madder. It is still a horrible color.

Ralph

[Magnus]

LOL @ Ralph...

If the context is non-combat, I'd say that's definitively a shield cover. Good eyes Ade.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I'd guess they are both covers....

[Ceasar Augustus]

Yes... I see your point. The remaining question is: how much attention to detail were the Roman sculptors paying?

[M. Demetrius]

Interestingly, though, the soldier on the right is holding his clipeus with a two-point grip, like you would expect to see on an aspis. Is that the way it looks to anyone else?

[Marcus_Ulpius_Trajanus]

Interestingly, though, the soldier on the right is holding his clipeus with a two-point grip, like you would expect to see on an aspis. Is that the way it looks to anyone else?

It does, sort of, and is one of the reasons I sometimes don't trust what I'm seeing on the column carvings. Some of the carvings are very 'stock' that is, the legionnaires are depicted in one fashion, the Auxilia in another, and they're all fairly identical within a type, even down to those poor bare chested slobs who only get a club. (but they still have a nice oval shield like the auxilia)

I guess it comes down to what is convention, and what is real detail?

[M. Demetrius]

I guess it comes down to what is convention, and what is real detail?

:lol: And that gives us some issues to argue about! Those Romans thought of everything, didn't they? :lol:

[Marcus_Ulpius_Trajanus]

I guess it comes down to what is convention, and what is real detail?

:lol: And that gives us some issues to argue about! Those Romans thought of everything, didn't they? :lol:

Got that right.