Museo arqueológico de Arlés

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Late Republican Romans

By smacdowall, Apr 17 2015 08:31PM

I came across this rather interesting frieze in the archeological museum in Arles a few days ago. The museum write-up says it is from a municipal arch depicting Roman soldiers of the late Republic from a municipal arch errected in the 1st C.

I came across this rather interesting frieze in the archeological museum in Arles a few days ago. The museum write-up says it is from a municipal arch depicting Roman soldiers of the late Republic from a municipal arch errected in the 1st C.

It is interesting to see the mix of equipment. All seem to have attic or montefortino helmets with rather impressive plumes. The figure on the far left of the photo with his large crest of feathers could be a Praetorian according to the museum write-up and there is another similar figure on the far right of the procession (see photo below). Most seem to have rectangular curved scuta but one or two have oval shields. Some have armour of very large scales while most others seem to have some sort of high waisted armour with double or triple layers of pteruges. The second figure from the right seems to be unarmoured. All swords are worn from baldrics and interestingly the central figure in scale armour carries his on the left hand side while most of the others are on the right.

In the centre of the frieze there are a number of officers in typical muscle cuirasses with pteruges.

The next group of figures are rather indistinct but seem to show a similar mix of scale armour alongside some other form of armour with pteruges.

Then we get another group of officers

These are followed by two figures with a very curious armour combination. Both seem to have some form of armour worn over the large scales. The figure on the right of the photo seems to have a cuirass with shoulder attachments and pteruges while the one on the left has a chest band held by shoulder bands of a style we often see in much later Byzantine art. Maybe the large scales are a leather undergarment which some of the other figures wear without further armour while these ones have additional armour on top.

The far right of the frieze ends with another figure with an impressively plumed helmet and carrying a rectangular scutum. The other figure seems to have fairly conventional armour with the addition of chest and shoulder bands.

Finally from another part of the monument comes this head only, wearing an impressively decorated Boetian style helmet with cheek guards and carrying a round or oval shield.

Interesting pictures. Looks like these images make for a strong arguement for the concept that they wore quilted armour, even over an underlayer of armour. The larger scales might of been a compramise due to the medium being worked with/on. Perhaps this stone would not take finer scales without the strong chance of damaging some in the process. The eastern phalangites adopted short linothorax with longer pteruges, perhaps the one soldier above preferred his the same as well. All images above depict very personalized dress.

Thanks for the post,

Mike

Apr 20 2015 08:38AM by smacdowall

Hi Mike
The thing that strikes me most is indeed the very individualistic style. Your suggestion that the scales could be quilted could indeed be a possibility particularly as in one case they are clearly worn as an undergarment. I do wonder if we have completely the wrong idea about how late Republican legionaries were kitted out? Highly unlikely that all this different armour and helmet styles were issued by the legion's Quartermaster. Perhaps soldiers were given an allowance and purchased their armour individiually supplimented with what they had looted from the battlefield.
Simon

It is interesting to see the mix of equipment. All seem to have attic or montefortino helmets with rather impressive plumes. The figure on the far left of the photo with his large crest of feathers could be a Praetorian according to the museum write-up and there is another similar figure on the far right of the procession (see photo below). Most seem to have rectangular curved scuta but one or two have oval shields. Some have armour of very large scales while most others seem to have some sort of high waisted armour with double or triple layers of pteruges. The second figure from the right seems to be unarmoured. All swords are worn from baldrics and interestingly the central figure in scale armour carries his on the left hand side while most of the others are on the right.

In the centre of the frieze there are a number of officers in typical muscle cuirasses with pteruges.

The next group of figures are rather indistinct but seem to show a similar mix of scale armour alongside some other form of armour with pteruges.

Then we get another group of officers

These are followed by two figures with a very curious armour combination. Both seem to have some form of armour worn over the large scales. The figure on the right of the photo seems to have a cuirass with shoulder attachments and pteruges while the one on the left has a chest band held by shoulder bands of a style we often see in much later Byzantine art. Maybe the large scales are a leather undergarment which some of the other figures wear without further armour while these ones have additional armour on top.

The far right of the frieze ends with another figure with an impressively plumed helmet and carrying a rectangular scutum. The other figure seems to have fairly conventional armour with the addition of chest and shoulder bands.

Finally from another part of the monument comes this head only, wearing an impressively decorated Boetian style helmet with cheek guards and carrying a round or oval shield.

http://legio-wargames.com/publications/4537248846

http://legio-wargames.com/publications/4537248846

http://legio-wargames.com/blog/4591469581/tags/Romans