HOME | DD
AMELIANVS β Caesarian Optio
by-nc-nd
#army #caesar #empire #legion #optio #roman #centurion
Published: 2014-12-23 21:51:16 +0000 UTC; Views: 11364; Favourites: 98; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
Optio(Centurion's deputy)from Caesar's favorite X legion during civil war battleRelated content
Comments: 35
π: 0 β©: 0
I reeeally love the scoring and marks on the shield!
π: 0 β©: 1
This is really great! Where did you get the reference for the "uniform's" colours? I really must do more research, as I had no idea that legionaries (or at least Optios) would have looked quite like that.
π: 0 β©: 1
Used colors are speculative but based on educated guess and preserved ancient artworks.Red color seems to be quite popular color for shields at Italian regions at that time but it must be always take in consideration that Romans loved colors and so it is very likely you would find some other Optio from another Legion in completely different colors.Every legion however had uniformly painted shield different from those of other units.We also know that during civil wars of the late republic names of high commanders used to displayed at the shield to help with identification when two Roman armies engaged in battle.Very good literature on Roman military colors exist:
www.ospreypublishing.com/storeβ¦
www.ospreypublishing.com/storeβ¦
www.ospreypublishing.com/storeβ¦
www.amazon.com/Roman-Military-β¦
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks for the book recommendations; I really should buy some of those Osprey books, they seem like a mine of information. It makes sense that the legions would have had some method of identification, especially during the civil wars. I understand though, that uniforms as we understand them today weren't quite in existence.
π: 0 β©: 1
No they almost certainly were not(those uniforms)-although some guard regiments were probably closest to modern concept of uniformity because they wear dress of the same color.Quality of various Osprey books is offten very diferrent title from title but those I mentioned are without any doubts among those best and very valuable to have.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks again for the recommendation. There's certainly a lot out there to learn.
π: 0 β©: 0
This is one of your best works, Amelianvs! I am really fond of the colours used in his armor. I read Vae Victis once, and according to Rocca's drawings I thought that at this time Caesar's legionaries used an early type of Gallic helm. Maybe I was wrong.
PS. I have started to write about Flavius Aetius, and I'd want to include as many events as possible. I have the feeling that it will turn up as some kind of novel if I do it this way. The thing is that I haven't got many sources on Aetius, so I would much appreciate if you could tell about some of them, because I don't want to create too many facts out of the blue, you know what I mean.
Happy 2015!
π: 0 β©: 1
Hi .-),
Well VAE VICTIS-as at any other period Roman army always used more types at the same time.It is generally accepted that by the time of Julius Caesar early types of what will be known as Imperial Gallic helmets were almost certainly limitedly in use already.However older types still heavily dominated Roman equipment during late republic.Majority of Caesarian legionaries would be equiped with Montefortino type of helmets and in case of Julius Caesar gallic campaigns veterans also with this type of clear Celtic origin.Many such helmets were discovered in the context of Gallic campaigns(two slightly different types-one more symple other more elaborate and decorated) and while older archeology tended toΒ automatically ascribe them to Gauls it is know viewed as fact that these helmets were actually used in great numbers also by Roman soldiers serving under Caesar in Gaul.VAE VICTIS is great comic series about these wars but it is also very old series and it shows both Romans as well as barbarians very much in the style of contemporary "Hollywood Romans" and movies are up to this very moment very far from reality-especially when it come on costumes .-)
As for Aetius.You can surely ask me on anything if you want.In case I will know the answer I will gladly help you but I must confess that I never dealt with this period between 400-476 much detailed.I always focused rather on what was before(mainly times of Emperor Julian)and what was after(mainly reign of Justinian).But by far the best informed person I know of to focus on Aetius and his era is this one:flavivsaetivs.deviantart.com/ he is also planning to write book about those times(not in a novel style however) and Im sure he will gladly help you too if you contacted him.
π: 0 β©: 1
AVE, dear friend! Many thanks for sharing your knowledge about the military equipment.
Yes, I really enjoyed VAE VICTIS! I haven't been able to get ''DE BELLO GALLICO''
yet -I know, this is unsound, butΒ we're not getting many books here in Argentina, due to
import restrictions, and because the 90% of books are from Spanish editing. So VAE VICTIS has helped
me to understand Caesar's tactics in a very graphical way. On the other hand, I felt that the portrait on Gauls was
very positive, not showing them as brutes or savages. But I may be mislead about this!
As for Aetius, many, many thanks for your help. I know FLAVIVSAETIVS from TW Center, but I haven't had
the honor to talk to him yet.
π: 0 β©: 1
Most ancient authors are easily available in my country because Communists ruled here for very long time and while they restricted majority of books they had fortunately no problems with ancient literature.Now Communistsare long gone but book market at my country is still not on the level of more western countries like Germany or France-although it certainly improved ca.around 80 percent .-)!
And of course there is also internet and newΒ possibility to get abroad what is not available in my country.
Gauls are certainly showed in positive light in VAE VICTIS-after all they are main heroes while Romans plays role of antagonists.But Gauls or Celts in general or any other barbarian nation were certainly not just some uncivilizied savages.In fact in their human core none of the barbarians ever differed significantly from the Romans.
π: 0 β©: 0
Very nice.
Classical Legionary stance, crouched, ready to strike.
Merry Christmas!
π: 0 β©: 1
Is he carrying kinda a cavalry sword? It's a bit too long for a Gladius!
π: 0 β©: 2
Gladius=sword not "short sword".This is normal size of infantry used Hispanic swords at that time.During times of Julius Caesar blades were little bit longer than later newer models that replaced it during Empire.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes but Gladius swords were not longer than 40 cm, right? That would make them to one of shortest swords of the time compared to those what the enemies of Rome used. Swords that were obviously shorter than Gladius could have been considered as daggers. Anyway i didn't know Gladius swords of Caesar's time were longer.
π: 0 β©: 0
A lot of swords were somewhat longer in the 1st century BC before the more widely recognised "pompeii" sword was adopted.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes, but the sword has a Roman design, pretty much like Gladius, but obviously longer; as far as i know this kind of swords were used by cavalry troops at the time. Longer swords of Celtic and Germanic designs might have been also used by infantry, probably auxiliary troops.
π: 0 β©: 2
It is little bit longer but as I already said it is normal size of infantry sword used at the time of soldier on that picture.They get blade shorter later.It is not cavalry sword.Β portalhistoria.files.wordpressβ¦
And here roll down a little(almost to the very end of the page)so you can see Legionary reenactment of the very same period.Those swords are certainly not cavalry swords just older(and longer)type of Hispanic infantry sword: www.paxaugusta.net/zPhotos/201β¦
π: 0 β©: 0
As I said-this is normal size for standard Roman infantry swords of that time.Ted is right.And sword type known modernly in pop culture as "Gladius"(althought it is not really name of that type)is not of Roman design but of original Celtiberian design only later many times modified by the Romans.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes it originated from Hispania, but many as you said considered it as Roman sword!
π: 0 β©: 1
Spanish swords had a heavy influence on Roman swords, but older native Italian swords were generally pretty stumpy stabbing blades already.Β
π: 0 β©: 0
Great work! Are you planning to do any more republican Roman works?
π: 0 β©: 1
Definitely-classics like Gallic wars and other scenes from the civil wars of the late Republic.I always wanted to do also something capturing combat with Macedonian phalanx.
π: 0 β©: 0
I like his battle damage and his fairly customised look (the legions were more informal and quasi-private armies in that era).
π: 0 β©: 0
Stunning. I wish somebody done me and my girlfriend's painting, we are celebrating our 2 years together
π: 0 β©: 1
I'm not good at portraits.Moreover half of my family wants portraits from me too already for years .-)...but you are actually talented photographer on your own as I saw.
π: 0 β©: 1
I hope you are not sad 
π: 0 β©: 1
Good,after all it's christmas time
π: 0 β©: 0
Red, white, and blue huh? Nicely done by the way.
π: 0 β©: 1
No symbolism was meant by those colors,Although for a short time I was considering doing it to remind United Kingdom flag .-)
π: 0 β©: 0