01-25-2013, 01:01 AM
In the book, they are described as Germans. The costume department at least paid attention that much.
One does have to remember that the mini-series Masada was based on the novel, The Antagonists by Ernest K. Gann (I have it and had it well before they made the mini-series), as one can see from the stills provided above. The mini-series filled in some of the pre-Masada stuff to give it some context. I have two VHS tapes of the mini-series recorded from the original broadcast. One is of better quality but missing the "maggots and mutiny" first hour of Part 3, because they started earlier that evening. The other tape is of poorer quality but contains every minute. Both friends who made them for me, were careful not to include the TV ads.
Three of us from Legio III Cyrenaica participated in a lecture by an archaeologist who had participated in digs at Masada. We provided examples (3 variations of armor and helmets) of the appearance of leginary soldiers of the roughly Flavian era). She was a leader of a dig concentrating on the two large half-legion camps. They were looking for Silva's headquarters, which they identified in one of the camps. She spoke about the layout of the tent rows with the stone rubble walls and benches presumed to be for the soldiers to sit/sleep on. It was all accompanied by a slide presentation. She included in the slides a section cut into the ramps showing its timber internal structure. It was all facinating for my two fellow legionaries who knew very little about Masada or the assault on it.
An interesting note: While she was talking about the arms and armor of the Roman legionary, with Andy as her example, she remarked that the "apron" straps hanging from his belt were to protect his lower abdomine. Andy, then disagreed with her by pointing out how easily they move, separately, and finished with a challenge to anyone to put on his belt and let him take a swing or stab at them with his gladius. Of course no one took him up and the speaker chose to keep to her opinion.
One does have to remember that the mini-series Masada was based on the novel, The Antagonists by Ernest K. Gann (I have it and had it well before they made the mini-series), as one can see from the stills provided above. The mini-series filled in some of the pre-Masada stuff to give it some context. I have two VHS tapes of the mini-series recorded from the original broadcast. One is of better quality but missing the "maggots and mutiny" first hour of Part 3, because they started earlier that evening. The other tape is of poorer quality but contains every minute. Both friends who made them for me, were careful not to include the TV ads.
Three of us from Legio III Cyrenaica participated in a lecture by an archaeologist who had participated in digs at Masada. We provided examples (3 variations of armor and helmets) of the appearance of leginary soldiers of the roughly Flavian era). She was a leader of a dig concentrating on the two large half-legion camps. They were looking for Silva's headquarters, which they identified in one of the camps. She spoke about the layout of the tent rows with the stone rubble walls and benches presumed to be for the soldiers to sit/sleep on. It was all accompanied by a slide presentation. She included in the slides a section cut into the ramps showing its timber internal structure. It was all facinating for my two fellow legionaries who knew very little about Masada or the assault on it.
An interesting note: While she was talking about the arms and armor of the Roman legionary, with Andy as her example, she remarked that the "apron" straps hanging from his belt were to protect his lower abdomine. Andy, then disagreed with her by pointing out how easily they move, separately, and finished with a challenge to anyone to put on his belt and let him take a swing or stab at them with his gladius. Of course no one took him up and the speaker chose to keep to her opinion.
Quinton Johansen
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
