Pertinax

Let it never be said that my great age and exalted position prevent me from bearing arms for Rome. To resolve the debate regarding the scutum, I manfully bore the "customary arms" and appraised the grip, weight and portability of same.The Scutum forces the hand to be held in a "punching" position, wth its central horizontal bar, the hand cannot grip palm upwards in any way.The LEG II AUG soldiery insisted that the scutum is not for fluid , individual ,combat but an essential for group co-operative protection. The shield is not overly heavy , though I suspect made for persons shorter than myself (im over 6ft tall), leverage on the forearm of a tall man would be irritating.You feel quite well covered given its size and curvature. The left hand retains the same grip with movement through flexure of the wrist, and extension of the forearm.

I questioned the men of LEG II about drawing the Gladius: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=896 (here a Belgic Auxiliary demonstrates the draw), all were unanimous in saying that the draw was easy , quick and neat.The sword was out in a trice, wth no hint of fouling any other piece of equipment.

When Tofu eaters go bad: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/fema...in_page_id=1879

I presume that the doctrine of "fix and flank" would posit the cavalry as the stike arm and infantry as the anvil (or fulcrum) but both elements are vital. Might I suggest that ,given Roman "killing efficiency" in infantry contact, that the ability to attrite might render the flanking action superfluous and mean that cavalry action wouild be a battlefield coursing action to maximise enemy fatalities.

Having watched re-enactment drills, ( I know that isnt the real thing) I can't believe the stirrup issue is the key issue, a four horned saddle can be used handsfree by a good horseman.Unless the key combat issue is use of a "heavy impact" lance (kontos) with a "full weight" delivery via stirrups. The horsemen ive seen are a flexible arm (with bow/lance/sword) but certainly would be wasted as a heavy impact "mass" (indeed what would be the point of such a deployment unless they were Cataphractii?) As an harassing and interdiction force they would be ideal , the delivery of missiles combined with rapid withdrawal from contact would be very disturbing to infantry. Poor training might be a specific reply to the particular battle-were these men new recruits?Was the commander ill versed in using combined arms? As auxilliary cavalry might be non-citizens was the issue of trust involved? If Gallic and Ubian cavalry were so well trained and admired were they only used against other cavalry or skirmishing troops to affect the "heavy infantry set piece" battle? I havent answered anything here , just musing really, save perhaps for suggesting a "not guilty" on the stirrup front.

Here is a charming piece from the "druidschool " site, as regards the growing of mustachios in accordance with social standing in Celtic society.Not perhaps the epitome of scholarship but a pleasing romantic conceit... https://www.storesonline.com/site/1030100/page/509179

Just a reminder that I hope to take in the LEG III re-enactment this weekend ahead at Bremetenacvm http://www.roman-britain.org/places/bremetenacum.htm and will try to get further information on shield grip/shield portability/combat stance/sword draw technique.If I can get any closeup images during the drill evolution, which highlight these things, I will post them asap.If any members have technical questions regarding armament and drill/combat can you either post here or pm me .

Not quite sure what your point is here RF , please keep the posting in the "Roman World " timeframe. Contemporary social comment is best posted in the Hora Postilla Forum .

Ah , the stoning of the blasphemer what innocent joy.

glad to hear it.As you will see I am now adjacent to a state of omniregency and am poring over my rimestock!

Im glad you have said all of this , I personally , am stunned by the "kitchen scene" from whence my own message quote is derived. The line " come, let them hear what fearful words I speak " is delivered with such awful resignation and moral probity that it wounds the heart. Hopkins is masterful, like Burton , when given something of quality his voice is mesmeric. The other lines I recall clearly , such as " thy unhallowed dam, like to the Earth , swallow her own increase " are stunning, and "feel my knifes sharp spite" -two examples from many: how more forceful if the monochrome of the opening set had been used throughout, Phil 25 has commented before about the "gimmickry" of the sets and his point is most valid .

If Yeltsin had done it they would have just assumed he was blind drunk.If John Prescott (our deputy prime minister ) had done it, it would be assumed that he had mistaken the boy for a small bacon sandwich.

And hopefully alabandical soon there after! Indeed apanthropizination will ensue!

The kriobology is performed expeditiously! The Orgiophants are become opaque in appearence.

Do I detect another biological/racial agenda behind this ? I think I have a common ancestor with Pantagathus: I postulate he was a sturdy , socially prestigious individual, possibly from an Eurasiatic location, a good swimmer,engaged in part time cattle theft , liked beer and was given to oracular profundity when drunk.

Now the question is... were all the rocks individually shaped like little boats, or were they arranged in a boat shape pattern. Maybe they discovered that there were actually many smaller satellite boats to accomodate the predators? Were these boat like entities arranged in a pyramidal manner? So fish wern"t inconvenienced by the flood?

Aha ! moderating glitch there, the thread re-appears by magic. my apologies if you were searching for this topic whilst I was editing.

Other than the work of Barry Fell, this is news to me. Source for this please? As to #3 the presence of nicotine can be explained with old world sources. Thank you Pantagathus.To re-iterate on the nictotine item, the long term degradation of plant substances vis a vis human remains is covered here: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...amp;#entry30859 I have previously posted here on the alleged use of cocaine.

I will certainly indulge in kriobological ceremonies to assuage his paterphobia! and, I have just found a word I have used...oviblastic

Indeed as you rightly suggest the amarulantic bajulations of his blateration will no longer suffer cynicocratical disapprobation!