Shoulder doubling attachment

[Lucius Antonius Aquinas]

Salve!

I'm currently making a lorica hamata dating from the late republican period. I'm interested to find out what kind of frontal attachment were used in that period, because according to Ahenobarbus relief there were no S-shaped hooks in that era. Also I'm curious to find out how many buckles were used to hold the back edge of the doubling.

[PhilusEstilius]

There were an excellent pair of S shaped doubling hooks found in excavations at the Kalkreise which was 9AD almost republican period, then when it comes to buckles I would go for 4 of these to give ample holding of the doubling.

[Matthew Amt]

There's at least one clear relief which shows a straight bar fastening, such as on the man at right in this photo:

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/rd02y.jpg

(That's our own Quintius Clavus!) It has a rivet in the center to hold it to the body of the shirt, and angled slots to catch the studs on the flaps. Works pretty well.

Connolly shows a Gallic fastening which is similar in function to this but decorated in the form of three rosettes. I think one is actually attached to one of the flaps, while the bar is plain at that end and hooks behind the rosette. Something like that...

Matthew

[PhilusEstilius]

The relief that Matthew is refering to is shown in the H. R. Robinson book, it is from Galatian mail in the victory frieze from the temple of Athena at Pergamum 2nd cent BC.

[Tarbicus]

And there was one found with punched dot decoration around its edges.

[Lucius Antonius Aquinas]

Thanks for illuminating me. My hamata-project can lumber on yet again.

[Andy]

Does anyone have pictures or images of these fastening systems you mention?

[Peroni]

Jim wrote...

And there was one found with punched dot decoration around its edges.

Do you mean this piece from Brogburgh Jim?


This British piece is a nice one ..


The Kalkriese pieces are of typical rams head decoration on the terminals..

[PhilusEstilius]

The pair from the Kalkriese are not plain but have faces at their centre and also other decorations. There is a good picture of them in the book by Tony Clunn "In Quest of the Lost Legions".

[Peroni]

There are three hook types from Kalkriese Brian. two are of the rams head terminal type. They are also all made of incredibly thin metal. This pair is inscribed with the maker's name on the reverse..

[PhilusEstilius]

Thanks a lot Adrian it is the one on the right in the lower pic that I was refering to. I reproduced that particular one for some chain mail made by the master Erik Shmid. That was a very touch and go situation making those for I made the faces in repousse', then had to braise them onto the hooks and of course I did the foolish thing of not making a mould of them but never mind I can always do the again.

[Tarbicus]

Jim wrote...

And there was one found with punched dot decoration around its edges.

Do you mean this piece from Brogburgh Jim?

No, Ade. It's a rectangular Republican piece I saw in a publication somewhere.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Jim wrote...

And there was one found with punched dot decoration around its edges.

Do you mean this piece from Brogburgh Jim?



]

Ade, does this one hook onto the two buttons, or are they part of the hook? I have always wondered.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

The rectangular piece is showed in Connolys's Greece and rome at war, in the part dedicated to celtic armour.

Connolly has used a depiction on a Pergamon relief.

[Peroni]

Ade, does this one hook onto the two buttons, or are they part of the hook? I have always wondered.

The discs are terminals of the hook itself. They work the same as any other hook. Celer has a pair of these on his mail shirt.