WotWotius Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 (edited) Was the stick also carried to the battlefield as a sign of rank? reenactors do some weird things Very true, I remember hearing about a cohort Russian Napoleonic reenactors who, during a mock battle, accidentally impaled a reeactor with cannon cleaner (they left it inside the cannon when firing it...), and in the name of authenticity they just put to one side and didn't give him any medical attention until after the battle had passed. ...those crazy Russkis Edited August 1, 2006 by WotWotius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 1. I admire your new avatar! 2. This Primus Pilus is keen on "Dignitas" and expects his men to represent Rome with decorum and gravity, I doubt that he has followed the example from Tacitus that you cite, but I understand he eschews levity. Note his rank markings on the scutum, and the Legions Capricorn standard. 1. Thanks, I grew tired of the old one. This one is a fractal. 2. Was that Tacitus? I don't recall where I heard it. I think it was on this site somewhere. I noticed the unusual markings on the Centurion's shield, but I have no clue what they mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotWotius Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 2. Was that Tacitus? I don't recall where I heard it. I think it was on this site somewhere. I read about that centurion in a Horrible History (Terry Dearing's The Rotten Romans): probably not a good source, but a good primary school read nonetheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 LW Yes it was Tacitus , from "The Annals", the mans brutality was one of the factors in the revolt of Germanicus' men,(also quite well done in "The Caesars" TV series weve chatted about before). Check the gallery for a second post of the Centurions gear. I was wondering about taking the stick into battle myself WW, British Officers still took their "swagger sticks" with them in the II WW ("Bridge too far" is a most notable real life re creation ) , thats a question for the next re-enactment I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Octavius Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 try this shot for an overall idea of his gear... http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=955 Nasty looking lad. How would you like for him to put in a cameo appearance in one of your nightmares? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Nasty looking lad. How would you like for him to put in a cameo appearance in one of your nightmares? (no comment) hehehe Pertinax is that bracelet he's wearing also a symbol of his rank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Nasty looking lad. How would you like for him to put in a cameo appearance in one of your nightmares? (no comment) hehehe Pertinax is that bracelet he's wearing also a symbol of his rank? I understood the amulets were, like the phalerae , awarded as mementoes of particular bravery-the conspicuous rewarding of bravery being a fundamental tenent of Roman martial activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I see. I seem to remember seeing other reinactors with similar decorations, however I did not always see them and had not read or heard anything about the wristlets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiochus of Seleucia Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 (edited) Wow, thanks pertinax, those are some good shots, especially the last one there. For lack of a better word, I must say Centurions look so badass. Edited August 2, 2006 by Antiochus of Seleucia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Wow, thanks pertinax, those are some good shots, especially the last one there. For lack of a better word, I must say Centurions look so badass. I know, aren't they awesome? They were made to look like that for a few reasons. First off, they wanted to appear intimidating both in battle and to their own troops, as it helped them to gain the respect, or fear, of their men. Secondly, it made them appear authoritative. And third, the large (red? or other colors depending on the depiction you see) crest made it easy to find your Centurion on the battlefield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotWotius Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 And third, the large (red? or other colors depending on the depiction you see) crest made it easy to find your Centurion on the battlefield. ...and easy for the enemy to find him. I think we've found the reason for the disproportionate amount of centurion casualties on the battlefield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 ...and easy for the enemy to find him. I think we've found the reason for the disproportionate amount of centurion casualties on the battlefield Of course. But you didn't become a Centurion by hiding you got that post through display of valor, among other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotWotius Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 ...good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Octavius Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 That was one the points. Caesar made a circuit of Alesia in full general's garb. Someone once wrote to the effect:An officer does not easily give up the privledge of being recognized as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotWotius Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Talking of military casualty figures, there is a Roman Inscription in Britain (RIB) that gives a list of how many dead and how many wounded a Roman cohort experienced during a skirmish. If memory serves me correctly, I think it was from the time of Hadrian. Does anybody know of such an inscription? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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