11-16-2002, 02:33 PM
Hello all<br>
<br>
I have seen the piece in the British Museum expo on gladiators that was done in 2000 (I thionk it was 2000).<br>
<br>
It was tucked away in a corner on the final leg of the expo. If I recall correctly the caption said something along the lines of 'Found in Gladiator Barracks in Pompeii, exact use unsure.' It was something like that, but I may have it completly wrong.<br>
<br>
Anyway, I didn't spend much time on the item, annoyingly. as it was the first time I had seen lots of gladiatorial pieces together and my attanetion was else where.<br>
<br>
It struck me that the item was bent after it was discarded and it appears to have lost the end, the bend on the original is more link a kink than a bend. It was in too poorer condition to be able to see what shape it was originally. It struck me that it was an epee or very early equivalient.<br>
<br>
Looking at many mosaics of weapons occasionally a weapon is shown as a single tessari (sp?) wide image. We are told that the mosaicist struggled with the depiction of the weopon, but in some cases the same artist has depicted knots and tie cords holding on equipment, perhaps this weapon was used infrequently but often enough.<br>
<br>
We have one in our display, actually a modern epee converted, but fighting against it is a nightmare, particularly if the other person knows how to use a shield well.<br>
<br>
The image in the book does not really do the original piece justice, unfortunatly like many of the images in the book I think a more traditional archaelogical illustration technique would have been better - but that is just my thought.<br>
<br>
All the best<br>
<br>
Graham <p></p><i></i>
<br>
I have seen the piece in the British Museum expo on gladiators that was done in 2000 (I thionk it was 2000).<br>
<br>
It was tucked away in a corner on the final leg of the expo. If I recall correctly the caption said something along the lines of 'Found in Gladiator Barracks in Pompeii, exact use unsure.' It was something like that, but I may have it completly wrong.<br>
<br>
Anyway, I didn't spend much time on the item, annoyingly. as it was the first time I had seen lots of gladiatorial pieces together and my attanetion was else where.<br>
<br>
It struck me that the item was bent after it was discarded and it appears to have lost the end, the bend on the original is more link a kink than a bend. It was in too poorer condition to be able to see what shape it was originally. It struck me that it was an epee or very early equivalient.<br>
<br>
Looking at many mosaics of weapons occasionally a weapon is shown as a single tessari (sp?) wide image. We are told that the mosaicist struggled with the depiction of the weopon, but in some cases the same artist has depicted knots and tie cords holding on equipment, perhaps this weapon was used infrequently but often enough.<br>
<br>
We have one in our display, actually a modern epee converted, but fighting against it is a nightmare, particularly if the other person knows how to use a shield well.<br>
<br>
The image in the book does not really do the original piece justice, unfortunatly like many of the images in the book I think a more traditional archaelogical illustration technique would have been better - but that is just my thought.<br>
<br>
All the best<br>
<br>
Graham <p></p><i></i>
