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Roman Mail doublers when did they stop using them
#1
Greetings, Caius with a question In Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161-284 AD Ross Cowan shows a Legionary from the time of Marcus Aurelius with Mail Armour with a doubler In Ospery The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan There is a picture of an Late 1st century Legionary of Legio II Adiutrix with Mail armour but no doubler. My question when did the Roman army stoped using doublers? Is the Mail doubler correct for a second centiury legionary? Most Reenactors who are Roman Legionaries seem to have the doubler but how many are second century types Thanks in advance Caius Valens (Thomas Razem)
He who desires peace ,let him prepare for war. He who wants victory, let him train soldiers diligently. No one dares challenge or harm one who he realises will win if he fights. Vegetius, Epitome 3, 1st Century Legionary Thomas Razem
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#2
Hi Thomas,

None are shown on the Adamklissi Meotopes that I can see, and I don't think they appear on Trajan's Column either- I wouldn't go by simple books, or certainly artwork, since you can't be sure either is strenuously researched on every small detail- it's always best to look at primary source material (in this case mainly sculptures). I seem to remeber a breast hook from Dura Europos, which is mid-3rd century (if it was deposited during the battle), but that's way in the east so not necessarily illustrative of northern and western Europe.
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#3
If you can make the meeting in December Thom, we can take a peak at some online stuff and browse my books to see if we can find anything.
____________________________________________________________
Magnus/Matt
Du Courage Viens La Verité

Legion: TBD
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#4
I believe, but i´m not sure, that there are no finds of Breasthooks which can be dated in the later 2. Century AD! Maybe there were some older shirts with Humeralia used, but it seems that the standart-Hamata were the plain-one whitout Humeralia.

@ Matt
D´Amato describes in his new book that on the Adamclissi Monument all kinds of Chainmail are depicted, even those with Humeralia!
Marcus Iulius Chattus
_______________________
Marcus-Gerd Hock

Me that ave been what i´ve been-
Me that ave gone where i´ve gone-
Me that ave seen what i´ve seen-
...Me!
(Rudyard Kipling)
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#5
Quote:I believe, but i´m not sure, that there are no finds of Breasthooks which can be dated in the later 2. Century AD! Maybe there were some older shirts with Humeralia used, but it seems that the standart-Hamata were the plain-one whitout Humeralia.

@ Matt
D´Amato describes in his new book that on the Adamclissi Monument all kinds of Chainmail are depicted, even those with Humeralia!

So far as the iconography goes, from the time of Trajan onward, no shoulder defences are depicted. If D'Amato really says that about the Adamklissi monument, then it is just another of his fantasies, for I have excellent imagery of ALL the metopes which I have just double checked, and there is no trace of any shoulder defences - simple mail shirts are shown like those on the column and the sculptures from Trajan's forum. Similarly the Marcus Aurelius column shows simple mail shirts, as do surviving bits of other monuments......
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)

"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
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#6
Sorry Paullus, i wrote only an information, which i found in his book ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE IMPERIAL ROMAN SOLDIER on page 129, not more! I know not more than a dozen different pics from the Tropaeum Trajani and thought i can trust these Information.
Marcus Iulius Chattus
_______________________
Marcus-Gerd Hock

Me that ave been what i´ve been-
Me that ave gone where i´ve gone-
Me that ave seen what i´ve seen-
...Me!
(Rudyard Kipling)
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#7
Is there a handy URL for us to take a look at the Adamklissi metopes up close? Lots of things there are of interest. I've found some partial sets via Google, but ---
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#8
Quote:Is there a handy URL for us to take a look at the Adamklissi metopes up close? Lots of things there are of interest. I've found some partial sets via Google, but ---
...alas, not that I am aware of. I was going to scan these images up onto a RAT database at one time, but Tarbicus suggested there was a better way, however it was a project that got no farther ( it's a big job! ). Sad

One of our Irish members put up pics taken of the metopes on their website some time ago, and I thought these were a complete set (?)
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)

"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
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#9
Handy URL??? What the hell is that???
I´m really interested in those pics, too. My only book with some pics of the Tropaeum Adamclissi is on loan.....
Marcus Iulius Chattus
_______________________
Marcus-Gerd Hock

Me that ave been what i´ve been-
Me that ave gone where i´ve gone-
Me that ave seen what i´ve seen-
...Me!
(Rudyard Kipling)
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#10
Well for the Adamklissi monument, the best site I know of, and it has been posted here before I think is fromthe LEG VIII Augusta website.

http://www.leg8.com/Musees/Adamclisi_02.php

They took some awesome pictures and I for one am highly glad they did.

R/
Mike Daniels
a.k.a

Titus Minicius Parthicus

Legio VI FFC.


If not me...who?

If not now...when?
:wink: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" />:wink:
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#11
Hmmm, I can see what could well be doublers on two chain mail clad soldiers.
Of course there is enough doubt to satisfy anyone who would dismiss the idea, sadly.
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
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#12
Quote:So far as the iconography goes, from the time of Trajan onward, no shoulder defences are depicted. If D'Amato really says that about the Adamklissi monument, then it is just another of his fantasies, for I have excellent imagery of ALL the metopes which I have just double checked, and there is no trace of any shoulder defences - simple mail shirts are shown like those on the column and the sculptures from Trajan's forum. Similarly the Marcus Aurelius column shows simple mail shirts, as do surviving bits of other monuments......

No kidding. A lot of what has been posted here on RAT about what D'Amato has written has completely turned me off of purchasing his book.
____________________________________________________________
Magnus/Matt
Du Courage Viens La Verité

Legion: TBD
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#13
Quote:the best site I know of,
Thanks, Mike. Bookmarked!
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#14
Byron

I think that I also see what you mention there appears to be one at page four however that is on Squamata, but then at page five there looks to be one on Hamata maybe more checks might confirm this.
Brian Stobbs
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#15
Quote:In Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161-284 AD Ross Cowan shows a Legionary from the time of Marcus Aurelius with Mail Armour with a doubler.

The idea for the mail shirt with the shoulder doubling developed after seeing this ivory frieze from Ephesus, showing Trajan with his soldiers

[url:3ecuifqp]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/EfesMuseumElfenbein1.JPG[/url]

and my belief that durable equipment could remain in service for decades, hence the later second century setting. Entirely speculative on my part, of course. ;-) )

Cheers,

R!
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