10-20-2006, 07:52 PM
Yo Graham, is this Dan's post you're thinking of?
[url:n4gptmgq]http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?p=57519#57519[/url]
Personally, I just think the whole thing about leather segs doesn't make sense, especially worn by a legionary. I just don't see the point of it. It's been absolutely proven that manual labour can be done wearing metal segs, and the defensive properties of leather segs, as far as I know, are far inferior. I also believe that any reason for it being used for comfort is merely transplanting a modern desire and physical endurance on the ancients; especially when we know that enduring hardship was just simply a required factor for the legionary, it even being a delibarate part of his initial training.
I see your point about medieval examples, but don't forget that, according to the latest research, the Romans seem to have had better iron and steel manufacturing processes than in the medieval period, or at least up until the 13th/14th Century.
Now rawhide, that's a different story altogether. :wink:
No matter what anyone says about how much they emulate the Romans, there is not a single re-enactor on Earth who has undergone the life, combat training, and physical training of a Roman legionary in the manner it was done at the time. I don't care how much a re-enactment group goes for the real deal, it's just not the real thing, it's only the aroma of it. And, to set yourself up on a pedestal of being "the one and only..." is just begging to be knocked off, especially when you say that if you disagree with their work then your own is worthless.
I might come round to the idea of leather segs in Roman times, but I'll need a lot more than what we see on the columns and arches. Do we believe that most Greek heroes went into battle naked while all of their comrades wore armour?
[url:n4gptmgq]http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?p=57519#57519[/url]
Personally, I just think the whole thing about leather segs doesn't make sense, especially worn by a legionary. I just don't see the point of it. It's been absolutely proven that manual labour can be done wearing metal segs, and the defensive properties of leather segs, as far as I know, are far inferior. I also believe that any reason for it being used for comfort is merely transplanting a modern desire and physical endurance on the ancients; especially when we know that enduring hardship was just simply a required factor for the legionary, it even being a delibarate part of his initial training.
I see your point about medieval examples, but don't forget that, according to the latest research, the Romans seem to have had better iron and steel manufacturing processes than in the medieval period, or at least up until the 13th/14th Century.
Now rawhide, that's a different story altogether. :wink:
No matter what anyone says about how much they emulate the Romans, there is not a single re-enactor on Earth who has undergone the life, combat training, and physical training of a Roman legionary in the manner it was done at the time. I don't care how much a re-enactment group goes for the real deal, it's just not the real thing, it's only the aroma of it. And, to set yourself up on a pedestal of being "the one and only..." is just begging to be knocked off, especially when you say that if you disagree with their work then your own is worthless.
I might come round to the idea of leather segs in Roman times, but I'll need a lot more than what we see on the columns and arches. Do we believe that most Greek heroes went into battle naked while all of their comrades wore armour?
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
