A Roman Legionary of the reign of Marcus Aurelius

[PALongimanus]

I was just wondering a few things about the equipment of legionaries in Marcus Aurelius' time (161-180 AD). I just started reenactment, and that's the era I have chosen. I just have a few questions to ask, as well as some tips.

Was the Pompeii gladius still used by some legionaries, or was it completely superseded by semi-spathae and ring-pommel swords?

Caligae or calcei? I've seen images of both.

Imperial Italic G (Hebron or Theilenhofen) only, or would there have been Italic H helmets?

Rectangular shields same as ever, right?

I know about the Newstead lorica, but if I wore chainmail, would it have shoulder doubling?

Are these images in any way accurate depictions of legionaries of this period?
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e...f875b4.jpg
http://johnnyshumate.files.wordpress.com...egions.jpg

Please give me as many tips as you can!

Aliquam erat volutpat!

[Crispvs]

The Pompeii gladius would be unlikely to be seen by that time but a ring pommel sword would probably be a good option. A dagger is probably best avoided because although there are a couple of examples dating to the period in question no-one makes a decent reproduction of the relevant type and in any case, we don't know how they were being carried by then. For sword suspension you would probably be safe with it on a narrow baldric but perhaps on the left side. The wide baldric may have been coming in by then but the earliest evidence we have for it is the Lyon burial, which probably dates to the AD190s, which is a bit of a stretch. The scabbard would probably have a dolphin type scabbard slide.

For a shafted weapon, you could go for a pilum, but if you do, make sure it is spike tanged and preferably with quite a long iron shank. Alternatively, you could probably also use a hasta.

Belt fittings might still have been of the colourful enamelled type used at the time of the building of Hadrian's Wall, but I would suggest going for a couple of the sinuous openwork 'trompetmeister' type plates, which were certainly in use by the third quarter of the second century AD. You would probably only need a couple of plates, one of which would be the buckle plate. Then again, by that stage you might also need brass ends for a lengthened and possibly bifurcated belt end. It is possible that 'Felix Vtere' belts might have been starting to make an appearance by then but again, the earliest definite evidence I am aware of is the Lyon burial, so 'trompetmeister' mounts seem best to me.

For hamata, you might be safer going without shoulder doubling as the latest depiction of it I am aware of is on the Adamklissi metopes. If you went with a Newstead segmentata, be aware that Robinson's reconstruction of it is now known to be inaccurate and you need to follow Bishop's revised interpretation, which allows for evidence which Robinson was unaware of. Sculpture of the period generally shows large pteruges or double layered pteruges, presumably attached to the subarmalis.

Similarly, caligae are better avoided because, again, the latest depiction of them is on the Adamklissi metopes and for some time even then they had been superseded in some areas by calcei.

For a helmet, due to the paucity of helmets from the period, your options are limited, but I think a Theilenhofen helmet might be the best option. It might be a bit old by then though, so make sure it looks well used. You could possbly modernise it with a pair of the more solid, locking cross re-enforcements found on some third century AD helmets, as I believe they start to enter the archaeological record around the time of the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

For clothing, you would probably be wearing femenalia by then and long sleeved tunics may have been becoming quite common as well.

The pictures are pretty good aside from the caligae shown in one and the Robinson style Newstead in the other. Also, the supposed canteen shown in one is probably actually an oil flask.

I hope this helps.

Crispvs

[Flavivs Aetivs]

The Theilenhofen was deposited in the 180's AD if I recall correctly.

Great post Crispus, I learned a lot.

I thought I'd help by clarifying some stuff. No offense, but I didn't know if you knew all of the terms Crispus used.

Feminalia - Braccae, or trousers of the Late Roman Era (2nd-7th centuries AD).


Theilenhofen Helmet


As for the Newstead Segmentata, Jeffery Hildebrandt has told me about a new reconstruction he's working on but I don't know much about it. I know he contacted MC Bishop about it though.

[Crispvs]

Generally, Femenalia are understood to be the short trousers which extend to just below the knee. Bracchae, as I understand it, is a more general word for trousers, but is commonly used today to refer to the longer type of trousers worn by Germans and later on, by the Romans.

Regarding the Theilenhofen helmet (actually there are two but I do mean the one you pictured a reconstruction of), it may well, as you say, have been deposited in the AD180s but that in itself tells us that it was made at some point earlier than that, and that it in all probability may have been quite old by then.

For Mike Bishop's revised interpretation of Newstead type lorica segmentata, you could do worse than looking here:
http://www.mcbishop.co.uk/loricaseg/book.htm

For belt plates, the 'trompetmeister' type I was suggesting is no. 5 in this picture, but everything from 1-6 would fit the general category I was thinking of and any of the items shown would be appropriate for the period, unless I am much mistaken.
http://s129.photobucket.com/user/mcbisho...8.png.html

Crispvs

[PALongimanus]

When (approximately) did the Pompeii sword fade out of use and when (also approximately) did the ring-pommel sword come into use?

Also, for the Marcomannic-Sarmatian Wars era, would most legionaries have used the rectangular shield?

[AMELIANVS]

Ring pommel gladius probably came into wide use directly during Marcommanic wars.As for rectangular shield-many legionaries still certainly used it BUT not all.Oval shields started to dominate in the army in this very time and contemporary iconography also show us type of shield which seems to be a mix of rectangular with oval shield.