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Pertinax

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  1. Pertinax
    The 14th!
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1936
     
    As can be seen we are in the period 75 CE -125 CE or thereabouts. Once again we have excellent attention to authenticity , from quotidian detail of carried (Centurion) marching gear :
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1937
    and camp implements :
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1935
    some robust noble born persons:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1941
    and a hawking party:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1938
    here is the great falconry authority Gemima Parry-Jones in appropraite dress (alas with modern microphone)
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1939
    to the overall appearence of the soldiery (in a wide selection of segmentata and hamata, with some fine personal flourishes in the way of Roman bravado:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1940
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1942
    This is the unit to which the noted classical scholar (and re-imaginer of artillery) Alan Wilkins lends his gravitas with his painstakingly rebuilt weaponry (check my Ballisate gallery for his "Polybolus"
  2. Pertinax
    Ive become absorbed in Pliny, some of his one liners' are priceless: and I dont mean this to denigrate him where it appears that "modern" science concludes he is mistaken in a thing.
     
    For some reason I was drawn to his writing on the Elephant , which he describes as second only to man in intellect and a thoughtful beast capable of offering homage to the Gods, and to its own Chief beasts.My favourite observation was "elephants mate in secret because of their modesty" what a quaint but elegant phrase :its impossible to stop smiling whilst reading because although you may for a while feel superior due to your modernity , what is startling is how close to modern thought the great man is throughout the books.
     
    Pompey of course suffered the curses of the Arena when Elephants provided by him for sport "played on the sympathy of the crowd ,entreating them with indescribable gestures", the curse worked of course as we know.Note: I was playing Rome total realism and found the Elephants seriously hard to kill.
     
    Under Agnus castus ,the herb,he expounds that the concentate of the plant is used to check "violent sexual desire" , and thus acts an antidote to the "genitalia stimulating bites" from poisinous spiders. This is interesting stuff,he is absolutely right of course in terms of male desire the "castus" is from the greek meaning chaste and in the middle ages monkish communities self medicated to diminish desires of the flesh.The spider bite interests me, obviously you had to watch where you sat in Rome.
     
    The herb fell out of use in Europe after 1700 to be rediscovered much later and is now freely available -though usually as a uterine tonic especially in menopause.
     
    Gallery pictures: hemlock,yarrow and wild carrot posted today all have a passing resemblance but Hemlock is the Virgil Sollozo of the group,look at the leaf structure.
     
    Im gratified at the number of visitors to the Herbal Gallery -I thought it would be far too abstruse for interest.
    beer report-Dark Star Brewery-Espresso, yes a coffee flavoured beer! and a glass of Timmermans Peche as dessert.
  3. Pertinax
    Appalling weather again in Brigantia , but I havent returned entirely empty handed. I have some shots of the site of the Fort at Alavanna. This is a bit of a problem in terms of naming, as you will be aware Alavanna Carvetorium is modern Maryport, and if my shakey Latin is any good I understand Alavanna tends to be interpreted as "the beautiful place" -fair enough (and please comment accordingly Latin scholars) because a lot of the sites are gloriously set in verdant landscapes. Here though we have a problem , Mediobogdum( fort in a bow?) would seem to be an appropriate name given the location within an oxbow bend of the River Kent, but that name seems to have stuck to the Hardknott pass fort further west toward Glannaventa (Ravenglass).The Fort is mostly unexcavated but we do now know that a Flavian construction date is strongly supported, on the ground the soft outlines of the decayed outer defences mark the area .The Kent would have supported water borne traffic in shallow draft craft to this site.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=696
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=697
     
    this site will repay a visit on a sunnier day.
     
    It is possible that the XXth made a tactical "retreat " here from their unfinished Inchtuthill fortress in the far north.
  4. Pertinax
    Before I , hopefully, attend the re-enactment at Banna I would like to clear up the geography of the Eastern extremity of Hadrian's Wall. This is also to indicate the likely extent of any photorecce , as much of the Wall in this area was destroyed by use as building material for the Military Road in the Jacobite Rebellion (c1745).
    The other difficulty is that in this area urbanisation has swamped or overgrown the remains of the fortifications.
     
    If you refer to this map section:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=748
     
     
    Arbeia is a site I will visit , this is a re-created "museum" of structures
    http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/arbeia/
     
     
    Segedunum is a coralled site amidst an industrial area
    http://www.segedunum.com/ ( as brought to you by Northern Neil recently). As you will seee I tried to get a response/link to UNRV but no-one seems to be home at present.
     
    Pons Aelius is literally buried under Newcastle's Castle.
     
    Condercvm is a few scattered remains in a "housing project", most of the fort is built over by housing.
     
    Vindobala is a vague outline in a field.The military road scythes through the middle of the site.
     
    Coria is my next project (Corbridge Fort and settlement).This is a pre-Hadrianic Flavian work like Vindolanda.
     
    thence we arrive at Cilvrinum and my previous blog entry.
     
    wish me luck for good weather and LEG VIII Augusta!
     
    and a special link just for Docoflove!
    http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...cial_s%26sa%3DX
  5. Pertinax
    Very sad news from the Secvnda , John Davis , their personable and vastly knowledgable Architectus has lost his life in a road accident. I have placed a Memoriam on the main Forum floor and posted a shot of John in his Auxilliary garb in the gallery.On the Secvnda site ,you can see the tributes coming in and some more images of him at various re-enactments.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?&a...=si&img=942
     
     
    This entry is also by way of invitation, to any visitors from the Secvnda to contact UNRV and contribute to our community . Also if I have made factual errors regarding any Secvnda images , or Secvnda activities please let me know at once. My excuse for any error is the amount of valuable information from your learned members that I had to absorb. I know you will all be very busy in the next two weeks at Archeon:
     
    http://www.archeon.nl/enghomeindex.html
     
    Thanks to David Richardson of The Secvnda.
  6. Pertinax

    A-viking!

    By Pertinax,

    For once I report to you on a non-Roman event. There was a small Norse re-enactment unit attached to a larger Civil War (English) event nearby , so I went in search of interesting items and weapons .
     
    There was a selection of goods and weapons on show.
     
    I have firstly, posted a Northman in general undress with everyday kit , were he to fight a padded jerkin would be neded under a coat of chain mail.This is a man of high status and thus his equipment is of superior finish.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1388
     
    Secondly we see detail of his high quality ornamentation (from a Norwegian find).
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1390
     
    Thirdly we see the small "pocket version" general use scramseaxe, this version not being the more familiar "broken backed" design.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1395
     
    In this image the use of the small axe to hamstring (or seek other peripheral weak points ) is demonstrated, note that the man nearest the camera is carrying a full fighting seax.This figure is also kitted with a very high quality helmet.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1391
     
    Image six , the familiar double edged longsword for hacking.This is a wealthy warrior, the helmet is of the best quality.A lot of low status men would have had to risk fighting bareheaded and getting a "pommelling" with the butt of the longsword.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1394
     
    Image seven, a less familiar single edged Norwegian blade.This is another copy from a norse hoard.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1393
     
    Image eight,the heavy Dane axe of the Norse and the Huscarl ,Anglo-Saxon Hearth troops.Capable of cutting through horse and man.The specialised weapon of the best troops.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1387
     
    Finally an axe fight (though not in full armour).
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1386
    The object is to maim by cutting through the collar bone , or seek out peripheral targets such as the hamstrings.
     
    My main observation here is one I have considerd in the "Celtic Swords" section, individuals and retinues of powerful Jarls had good weapons and an organised/dedicated fighting band, however the commonplace warrior had little enough equipment and protective gear.One cannot help but feel a retrograde step has been taken watching the , therefore needful, emphasis on "individual" combat technique. I do not discount the skaldaberg as a steady shield wall strategy , but the swine array seems merely to be a re-invention of roman assault tactics.
     
    There is an off site upload here as usual , with a few more shots of ephemera.(the gallery is "The Vikings!"
    http://triclinium.spaces.live.com/
    post scriptum! A rather fine shield painting:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1389
  7. Pertinax
    A coincidence of two items leads me to post a little about grain conssumption in the ancient world. Northern Neil fortuitously got hold of some spelt (red wheat) bread from a local (to ourselves) supermarket chain, this particular loaf is very different to any off the shelf product in mass usage.I am presently also writing a review of grain supply vis a vis famine in the classical world, and was struck by the frequency of grain shortages (as opposed to outright famine)
    A couple of slices of spelt loaf are very filling , but do not leave the consumer either bloated or tired ie: complex protein endosperm and slow burn long chain carbs , the grain is impermeable to pests and (nowadays) insecticidal pollution. It struck me that the working man (or slave) who ate this bread along with aioli (garlic/olive oil ) spread would be well set up to avoid any sort of systemic poisoning, especially via amoebic/flagellate/nemotode parasitic incursion (nemotode=worms).
    This most basic of dietary regimes would be beneficial also for the modern obsession with "fibre" to make the peristaltic action of the gut wall easier , and teeth would be less llikely to be carious. I now also understand why the Army used barley as a punishment ration-it was the fallback staple for the peasant in hard times , and to have to subsist on this grain would be both tedious and a humiliating reminder of rural poverty. So the observation that the Roman soldiery "just" ate porridge and bread and then marched all day does not now strike me as totally ridiculous , especially if rich Imperialist tidbits could be added to this basic fare.
     
    "True Roman bread, for true Romans".
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1268
  8. Pertinax

    UK UNRV Meet

    By Pertinax,

    Exhausting but worthwhile. The various reports are being posted in the Forum, the images are going into the Gallery. A tremendously eclectic meeting with specialisms ranging from unusual dietary and sexual behaviour in Rome via detailed knowledge of construction techniques, medicinal practice , gladiatorial fashions, military engineering etc. This was one of those rare events where everything actually went right, and I just hope we can follow this up with additional UK meetings and a Forum meet (one day) in Italy. Everyone contributed wholeheartedly, the debate and arguments over topics great and small was continuous without any ill will. The first night set the tone, a noisy warm hearted dinner party consuming wine in abundance.I cant praise the UK members enough, for the spirit in which the meeting took place. Also I cant believe how much they drank.
  9. Pertinax

    Poison Toxicity

    By Pertinax,

    As many of you will know I maintain a morbid interest in toxic items from ethnobotany , and likewise the animal kingdom where its creatures were known and "utilised" in a known (or fabled ) historical context...Cleopatra's asp as our most prominent , recent televised suicide in Rome 2.
     
    I intend to revise my list of plant poisons (previous blogs) and add some spiteful animals (and fish).
    However a scale of toxicity is needful if we are to determine the relative efficacy of our assassination tools, how do we gauge the Claudian mushrooms versus Socratic Hemlock? Quite neatly as it transpires by using a dosage per kg bodyweight index, considering of course that a small woman has a small liver and might be an easy "client" to deal with.
     
    here we are:
     
    6. supertoxic ...less than 5mg per Kg ...that is a mere taste (six or seven drops)
    5. extremely toxic...5-50 mg per Kg...still not much, maybe a teaspoon for a smallish "client".
    4. very toxic...50-500mg per Kg..between a teaspoon and an ounce , not much really.
    3. moderately toxic...0.5-5 gm per Kg...maybe one ounce up to a pint (so not as disguisable).
    below this levels 1 and 2 are sub fatal , but nasty.A sick person might succumb, but not a healthy one given a reasonably timely antidote.
     
    To give some understandable benchmarks :Formaldehyde is a level 6 , particularly deadly when inhaled , but it has a vile smell( though widely used in cosmetics as a stabiliser) . Hemlock , Aconite and Oleander are all sixes as is liquid nicotine.Mandrake is a 4.
    And before you take a swim , some Octopii can bite you to the tune of level 4....
    and heres a link to some nice sweeties..
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1808
     
    Thats just to set the scene for some toxicological history.
  10. Pertinax

    Venin de Crapaud

    By Pertinax,

    I have written previously about Hemlock Conium maculatum (and its main poisonous principle the virulent alkaloid coniine, which essentially makes its victim "forget" to breathe), coldness of the flesh moving from the feet toward the chest with a gentle numbness being its significant property. It is said no pain attends this death.
     
    I was taking a gentle stroll to relieve a modest hangover when I happened upon two items , lying by the wayside, that a maleficium would have ceased upon with glee: a toad and some young Water Hemlock.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1814
     
    Water Hemlock Cicuta virosa is sometimes mistaken for the gentler instrument of oblivion, but its venomous cicutoxin (an aliphatic alcohol mainly in the roots) causes a hideous convulsive death after roughly 20 minutes of agony (respiratory failure being the actual cause). You might think that this would be enough for some people (by which I mean career poisoners) , but I found a most interesting snippet of information the other day . There was a vogue for the force feeding of toads with deadly plants, (we are speaking of the era of that most celebrated poisoner Catherine De Medicii) , arsenic being a favourite, but cicutoxin and coniium likewise. What profit does this have? Well obviously the toad is probably not too happy, but venin de crapaud the distilled essence of the luckless animals body was a powerful multiple envenomed poison.The bufotenin in a toad's flesh being a powerful hallucogen (hence a spate of toad licking in the Americas ("The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonaran Desert" by A Most if you simply must put your tongue on an amphibian).
     
    Before you rush to feed your pet toads with an assortment of narcotics I must just mention that the urine of schizophrenics yields a very high level of bufotenin , so mental stability might be a problem here.
     
    Which just goes to show what handy things are lying around in the countryside.
  11. Pertinax
    At Chester Zoo there has been an attempt to re-create a Roman garden , or certain elements of types of garden. The medicinal, the rustic (cottage garden) and the ornamental are represented in an overlapping reconstruction.
    The problem with visiting a Zoo is of course the spectacle of large , dumb animals wandering aimlessly and displaying semi-psychotic behaviour , whilst their offspring are never allowed to live in freedom (nor experience a healthy diet). The animals look pretty pissed off as well.
    The garden is a small part of the whole thing and whilst its original execution was reasonable , maintenance does not seem to be particularly good. Certainly I was able to visualise the gardens of Pompeii on an overcast day in Deva , but the original is still the greatest.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1879
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1880
    The medicinal garden contains:
    Marshmallow (Althea officianalis)..usually used as a poultice for bruises and sprains
    Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) ..for hypochondria and freckles (that is a new one to me as well!)
    Wormwood (Artemesia absinthum) ..of which I have written copiously , flavouring (absinthe), worm killer (internal parasites) , and relief for aching feet on the march (as an application).
    Bear's breeches (Ursus please note) (Acanthus mollis) the roots were cooked and used as a dressing for burns
    Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) the standard Roman cough medicine
    Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) ..used as a fragrant herb in rooms , but also an abortifactant (still used so)
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1878
    House Leek (Sempervivum tectorum) the sap is good for burns (as one might use Aloe Vera now) , also placed on the roof of a house to protect from lightning and fire (being a gift from Jupiter Folgore).
    Borage (Starflower) (Borago officianalis)..as used by the Celts as a pre-combat beer( its name being borrach meaning "glad courage") and used for rheumatism and delerium.Nowadays used for PMT because of its huge linoleic acid content, and for prostaisis.
    Hyssop (Hyssopus officianlis) another useful cough medicine , still so used today.Usually boiled with figs and honey.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1881
     
    The "decorative" garden was in poor shape , though the collected quinces and medlars were attractive. The bee skips (hives) were well done , set in a bed of hyssop to make honey with a useful expectorant quality.
  12. Pertinax
    My trip to Aqua Sullis and outlying settlements of interest (to the forum) was terminated abruptly by snowdrifts forcing me to take shelter at the nearest available Hotel and wait for the roads to clear -regrettably I was unable to make any headway to even local sites or museums . I returned early today as more snow is now falling. I have posted a shot of my Hotel garden-looking suspiciously like Lantern Waste in Narnia.
  13. Pertinax

    Salve!

    By Pertinax,

    Greetings all!
     
    I would like to use the blog feature to co-ordinate additional information on herbal medicines with the plant illustrations in my album. I am awaiting the "Pompeiian Herbal" to read and review, I hope I can make a small contribution towards the modern understanding of the use of plant medicines by the Greeks and Romans.
     
    I am aware that Yarrow "The soldier's herb" has not made an appearence yet , but im biding my time till I can take a worthy photo.(note: this herb followed the legions everywhere and followed the redcoats into north america, not only is it a useful direct wound dressing but it is a true heamostatic with a huge range of chemical constituents )Yarrow was in antiquity called Herba Militaris but is now known as Achillea millefolium (as it is said Achilles bound his men's wound's with it).Its common name's are Knight's Milefoil and Nosebleed.
     
    As I travel I will post photos of Roman and Medieval remains.Im not a big diary keeper so I wont be posting too many entries, save perhaps to let Pantagathus know if ive found a particularly interesting European Beer.
  14. Pertinax
    Not a bad trip to York , the winter sun doesnt help when trying to get panned shots of the walls so I think that will have to wait till spring. The Roman Bath's 'Museum" is in turmoil at present so no shots of that , however the Yorkshire Museum had an excellent array of items. The Walls were a bit tricky because of the lighting conditions so I concentrated on the Gatehouses.The wallls were in part original Roman built and constantly extended in medieval times. I was struck by the fact that the modern building lines of major new builds are directly influenced by the Roman street pattern -not the meandering Medieval layout.Stood on the top of the Minster you get an idea of the symmetry of the fortress and the related streets, ive posted a photo to illustrate this.The Minster is always impressive and I took a trip up to the roof of the main Tower ,hot work even on a cold day with a scarey traverse across a very low parapeted roof, medieval workmen were not 6 feet tall with largish feet is my surmise-I took a huge number of shots of the Wall but I think I will post just a few in case of battlement fatigue.
     
    Vindolanda next I think!
  15. Pertinax

    Sacred Beer

    By Pertinax,

    Ye seconnde partte_Part 2
     
    So firstly we see the near universal practice of fermentation as food, medicine and divine conduit now we are down to practical matters and the
  16. Pertinax
    Salvete Omnes!
    I am pleased to be able to return to the forum at last. I hope to have new photos from the Luguvallum area next week and from Alavanna (Watercrook) .The Tullie House museum and Carlisle Castle diggings are on my itinerary.
     
    edit: The Alavanna to which I refer is not Alavanna Carvetorium (Maryport) it is possibly related to the "lost port" of the Morecambe Estuary , namely that port used by II Adiutrix to combine with IX on its march north to deal with the Brigantine uprising in the southern Lake District,( possibly on the River Kent at Newby Bridge). Alavanna would be the next logical base along the river to secure an inland base with excellent natural defences, ie: surrounded by a wide ox-bow meander.The modern town of Kendal is nearby.
     
    It also seems that the slightly later Flavian imperative in this area was to "divide and conquer" keeping the tribes split and off balance , particularly also to keep the Carvetti from harm at the hands of the Brigantines.
     
    here is a pocket review of a useful text...
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3722
     
    and..
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...owentry&eid=255
    the alpha-numero Herbal index is undergoing tweaking.
  17. Pertinax
    The re-enactors were quite a bunch, very friendly and keen to share knowledge. They also presented a sight that many will consider strange, their ages-many were "grizzled veterans" but that added to the event , it was easier to see "old sweats" with missing teeth and not so athletic builds -we know Germanicus had to quell revolts by men who showed him toothless gums and old injuries.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=759
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=758
     
    They also had the wiley disarming charm of old soldies,indeed some of them were old soldiers! Interestingly the Centurion of Deva Victrix had been brought up in Deva (Chester) and had handled a Gladius and Scutum since childhood.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=754
     
    The mounted Auxilliae had an air of lofty disdain for the foot soldiers , and I detected that this was reciprocated, the usual inter service rivalry made flesh two thousand years on.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=760
    I actually felt a sharp pang of reality as the mounted men told the foot soldiers to move aside as they entered the arena, it was perfectly reasonable as the horses needed the space , but it had a real hint of class difference in its delivery. Im sure it was totally unintentional, but it was also most revealing.
     
    The main photo upload is enormous ,so it will have to be off site especially as this is only the first such event im covering this summer.We have a day at Bremetennacum, another at Skipton and a Roman Day at York.
     
    LEG VIII AUG album now in my msn blog
     
    http://spaces.msn.com/Triclinium/PersonalSpace/
     
     
    I would like to ask members to visit Northern Neil's clever little models of Turret and Milecastle construction ,
    these are very good "imaginings", its possible that some fort/fortlet towers were even taller than the one shown, but I suspect this was more likely to be at the "premier" forts -the totally lost Axelodunum (Stanwix-THE premier posting on the Wall) and Arbeia as a large logistical support/fleet base.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=765
  18. Pertinax
    A visit to the splendid LEG II AUG at Bremetenacvm. This outfit have a top notch Greek surgeon with state-of -the-art equipment for all wound types and a comprehensive medicine chest.As you can see the battle had been bloody and some nasty wounds had to be dealt with.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=895
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=898
     
    here we have a messy fracture and splintered shin bone, the man has been given opium and a little henbane to keep him quiet.The wound has been robustly splinted , the medicus has been digging out bone fragments with the tools you see. Here is henbane-still used as a pre-med today!
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=528
     
    After the wound has been cleaned two soldiers will stretch the mans leg , hard , and a honey soaked dressing will be packed into the wound.The dressing will be renewed to a shallower depth on each renewal to allow a deep scab to heal and seal the wound.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=899
     
    The Doctor has a wide range of modern medicines to draw upon.If nothing can be done and gangrene threatens , then amputation is likely to be needed to stop gangrenous poisoning :this is a set re-created from a find.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=900
     
    Ive posted in the main forum regarding drawing the gladius and the scutum grip, for those debating these points.
     
    The office of the Architectus was nearby and I examined the range of natural pigments on display, and his superb selection of measuring equipment-the collapsible brass scale being the key implement.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=907
    Here we have items for calculation , weights, measures, geometric work , surveying work and cartographic activities.
     
    A display of re-created helmets was on show
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=902
     
    I met the artefex in question and he discursed on the points of this wonderful piece of work.This is a cavalry helmet though you will doubtless recognise elements that appear in later infantry armour.Th epiece illustrated is for a Cataphract or Clibanarius, as always with cavalry helmets we have a closed over ear piece , though in fairness this item is for maximun protection regardless of any other features.
  19. Pertinax
    I have been keeping notes to try and produce a handy recipe that would be both beneficial to modern users , and whilst not attested , be understood by our Roman forbears.
     
    I think I have one such ready for the forthcoming Saturnalia, no part of it was unknown in Rome (though some ingredients would be for the rich alone) this mix would be both cleansing and pleasant .
     
    take 1 pint of maderia wine ( so we are talking sweet and rich hence adjust your choice to taste).
    1 sprig of wormwood ( those bracing thujones!)
    1 sprig rosemary (digestive )
    1 small bruised nutmeg
    1 inch of fresh bruised ginger root
    ditto cinnamon bark ( very pricey in Ancient Rome)
    12 large raisins
     
    place all the herbs in the wine , keep in the cool and dark for a week or two .Strain off the herbs,combine this medicated stock with another bottle of madeira -mixing thoroughly! This will settle a jaded stomach nicely if sipped from time to time.
     
    Done with discretion this should make a useful tonic, myself I will aim for a less sweet base and fewer raisins , whilst perhaps adding one (yes one) drop of frankincense.
     
    Reference acknowledgment : Hoffman "Holistic Herbal".
  20. Pertinax

    II AVG Cavalry

    By Pertinax,

    The cavalry unit of the Legion was present at the Bremmetenacvm event. Only four horsemen in all (not the regulation 40) , and even then the logistics of moving , preparing and saddling the animals was by no means easy. One of the animals in particular was a complete newbie to the event and bridling was a rather tense experience. The Commander also had to improvise a mounting block from a nearby stone wall as his mount ws a little nervy.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1791
     
    Anyway everyone made it into the arena without being unhorsed, the immediate thing which struck everyone was the higher seat of the cavalrymen because of the horned saddle (and lack of stirrups). The Cavalry performed a number of drill evolutions which amply illustrated the precise control that can be achieved by a discipline man and mount , the use of seat and leg pressure predominantly being involved in the control of the animals at certain junctures. Shooting a bow from the saddle and using the kontos in an overhead position are near handsfree activities (you khold the reins really so they dont fall away) , and it was also noticeable that carrying a shield and spatha (and wielding them ) needed greater emphasis on lower body control.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1792
     
    The images posted are not as "natural" as the shots one can take at Hadrian's Wall , as Ribchester is a rather smart upmarket densely built village, so bits of the 21st Century keep intruding no matter where you point the camera.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1794
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1796
     
    We saw drill that illustrated the accuracy of javelin attack from horseback, direct sword attack, kontos attack , use of the bow and harassing of footsoldiers (one man to distract an opponent into raising his shield another to nip in and strike him down with a lance).
     
    The animals in full flow looked very good, remembering that these were just the cobby types favoured by Roman Cavalry for working in this province in particular. I suspect we are seeing New Forest blood here mixed with Welsh cob.It was actually very exciting to watch, and even this good natured display made one realise real nerve and discipline would be needed to face the mobile threat of horsemen.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1795
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1797
     
    As always I picked up one or two interesting asides about commonplace re-enactment experience, the most interesting was the not unsurprising observation that the scutum is the most annoying bit of kit carried by the soldiery, even the Marian "backpacks" though heavy were not as awkward and demanding on the physique.The load by the way compares to a modern bergen -say 40 lbs , with armour and scutum in adition you begin to grasp the wieght being carried . We have chatted on the forums about the grips for shields and swords previously, the upshot of re-creating the kit was that these men had wrists like oak trees carrying the scutum year in year out and some pathological evidence shows moderate elongation of the left arm of soldier's skeletons.Ballistae could not be displayed and operated becaus eof the damp conditions, so always attack the Romans when its raining, so they cant deploy torsion weapons.
  21. Pertinax

    The Veneto and Verona

    By Pertinax,

    Hello to everyone after my unfortunate absence , here is a short blog to get me back into the swing of things.
    A long European jorney took me via Koln, Frankfurt, Zurich and Innsbruck to Verona and the Venetian Carnival. Verona has the second largest surviving amphitheatre outside of Rome, and what a joy it is to behold in mellow sunlight. One might imagine that Theatre is worn and fragile with antiquity, however under a patina of weathering the massive structure retains its basic integrity and is used as a major venue for opera. I sat alone in the upper rows of the theatre on one of the huge stone blocks that constitute the visible inner finish of the auditorium, the sheer weight of the structure is impressive , its beauty is sublime.Here we have a shot of the interior, (quite suitable for an appearence by Caldrail id say) http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=2132
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=2128
    This is a shot of the surviving part of the outer curtain wall, even without this structure the remaining edifice is impressive. The whole mood of the place is one of mellow maturity, I have attached some general shots of the Town which give a good idea of the relaxed ambience. Also extant are remains of the Roman town gates, two such exist , the Porta Leoni http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...p;img=2129(with exposed groundworks showing the usual considerable change in levels from the original construction to modern street level) and the Porta de Borsarii ( a later medieval name for an early structure)
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=2131
     
    http://www.arena.it/eng/arenaeng.urd/portal.show?c=1
     
    Well worth a visit.Oh the carnevale?
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=2127
    Some more to follow I think.
  22. Pertinax

    Pleasures Of The Table

    By Pertinax,

    Apart from materia medica my abiding passion is for the Triclinium, and I will keep members informed of any particularly outre gustatory experiences.I will also endeavour to gather a little more material regarding medieval recipes and pass these on from time to time.
    You will all be amused to hear that I have succumbed to a stomach bug today, but as I hold to the virtue of plant medicine I have mixed the inner bark of the Red Elm (native to N.America) with Manuka honey.It seems to have done the trick.
    The Elm is also called Ulmus fulva , I wonder do any American mamber's have information regarding its use by Native people's? I believe it may be called Moose Elm or Indian Elm in the western USA where it is more plentiful.
    note: I see it was used to treat gunshot wounds by pioneers
     
    I shall be eating very plainly today.
  23. Pertinax
    Im determined to get to Hadrian's Wall in the next few days -I dont know if the weather will allow me to present any reasonable photos,if it remains gloomy I may have to confine myself to interior artefacts at the Roman Army Museum and the Castle Museum at Carlisle.
    Britain has a general water shortage , this does not seem to affecting Brittania Inferior.So I will be absent for a while. I will be on the Wall again at the start of February so lets hope for a few hours sunshine.
     
    Madame Pertinax meanwhile will be adjourning to Rome itself in March, so she is charged to secure photographic evidence of the Forum.
  24. Pertinax
    Salvete Omnes!
    I have returned from Vindolanda and Vercovicium with a massive portfolio of photographs. Dea Fortuna favoured the lone scout from UNRV moving quietly through the early morning mists to steal the images of the special places.I will spend some time editing and paring down , many of the shots I will load onto my own home site ( though its link is still defective) particularly the detailed "object" museum shots . For now I will post a couple of images in the miscellenia gallery .
     
    There is a lot to tell you about the forts, the Wall and the items on display-never mind the wild beauty of the place.What impressed me was that Vindolanda has had at least five distinguishable wooden forts , and at least two episodes of stone construction/reconstruction from Flavian times to late third century. If you consider this length of time in relation to the history of some modern nations -and that Rome came to Briton relativley late -it is a sobering thing indeed.Vindolanda pre-dated the Wall but appears to have become an "offset" garisson base very close to Stonegate (the Military road below the Wall Vallum). A lot more to follow ...but I am weary...
  25. Pertinax

    Alavana

    By Pertinax,

    The visit to the extremity of the Western Defences was hampered by poor weather. Ice, fog and bad light! Not so good for any of the locations I wanted to post in the Gallery, Medibogdum is a non-starter in icey conditions as the road is not much better than a cart track -and also happens to be the highest driveable pass in Britain.That will have to wait for another visit.I was able to get some shots of the bath ruins at Glannaventa (home of the Batavian "marine/amphibious " auxiliaries) a Flavian fort occupied virtually till the end of the Roman occupation.
     
    The first cohort of the Aelian Fleet were here in 158, they may be the first garisson to have had a long initial occupation.The first cohort of the Morini are attested in the 4th and 5th centuries< natives of Glesoriacum of the Belgae (Boulogne to you and I).
     
    Alavana (carvetiorum) -the "beautiful place of the Carvetii".It may be that this was the admin centre for the western defences. Valeria Victrix were here,(XX),and II Augusta. The auxiliary Cohors I Hispania did some later refurb work.First Cohort Dalmatiae were also epigraphically attested in 138.
    The Roman museum is on winter hours at present so I was unable to furnish any small item shots.
     
    So a few shots in my "Historical Sites " album -plus a passing anenome
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