Roman Military Equipment

by Bishop, M. C.; Coulston, J. C. N.

• ISBN13: 9781842171592
• ISBN10: 1842171593
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-08-30
• Publisher: Oxbow Books Ltd

Summary

Rome's rise to empire is often said to have owed much to the efficiency and military skill of her armies and their technological superiority over barbarian enemies. But just how 'advanced' was Roman military equipment? What were its origins and how did it evolve? The authors of this book have gathered a wealth of evidence from all over the Roman Empire-excavated examples as well as pictorial and documentary sources-to present a picture of what range of equipment would be available at any given time, what it would look like and how it would function. They examine how certain pieces were adopted from Rome's enemies and adapted to particular conditions of warfare prevailing in different parts of the Empire. They also investigate in detail the technology of military equipment and the means by which it was produced, and discuss wider questions such as the status of the soldier in Roman society. Both the specially prepared illustrations and the text have been completely revised for the second edition of this detailed and authoritative handbook, bringing it up to date with the very latest research. It illustrates each element in the equipment of the Roman soldier, from his helmet to his boots, his insignia, his tools and his weapons. This book will appeal to archaeologists, ancient and military historians as well as the generally informed and inquisitive reader.

Author Biography

M. C. Bishop is a writer, publisher and archaeologist specialising in the study of military equipment. In 1983 he organised and published the first Roman Military Equipment Seminar. He edits and publishes Arma, the newsletter of the Roman Military Equipment Conference and the Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies. J. C. N Coulston is a lecturer in the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews. He has carried out fieldwork on Roman sculpture and Roman military artefacts all over Europe and the Levant and has published numerous articles on Roman sculpture and military equipment.

Table of Contents

Preface and Introduction	vii
Acknowledgements	ix
Notes	xi
Map and List of Sites	xiii
The Representational Evidence
Introduction	1	(1)
Propaganda Sculpture	2	(7)
Funerary Monuments	9	(5)
Miscellaneous and Non-Roman Sculpture	14	(2)
Minor Works	16	(4)
Notes	20	(3)
The Archaeological Evidence
Introduction	23	(3)
Site Deposition	26	(4)
Hoards	30	(1)
Water Deposits and Votive Offerings	30	(3)
Burials with Weaponry	33	(1)
Excavation and Publication	34	(1)
Reconstruction Archaeology	34	(3)
Notes	37	(2)
The Documentary Evidence
Introduction	39	(1)
The Literary Sources	39	(2)
The Sub-Literary Sources	41	(2)
Epigraphy	43	(4)
Notes	47	(3)
The Republican Period
Weapons	50	(11)
Armour	61	(6)
Other Equipment	67	(4)
Notes	71	(2)
From Augustus to Hadrian
Weapons	73	(18)
Armour	91	(15)
Other Equipment	106	(17)
Notes	123	(6)
The Antonine Revolution
Weapons	129	(8)
Armour	137	(7)
Other Equipment	144	(2)
Notes	146	(4)
The Army in Crisis
Weapons	150	(20)
Armour	170	(12)
Other Equipment	182	(10)
Notes	192	(8)
The Dominate
Weapons	200	(8)
Armour	208	(10)
Other Equipment	218	(10)
Notes	228	(5)
Production and Technology
Production	233	(8)
Technology	241	(8)
Notes	249	(4)
The Study of Military Equipment
The Identity of Roman Soldiers	253	(9)
The Ownership and Storage of Equipment	262	(4)
Individual Taste and Decoration	266	(1)
Innovation and Change	267	(3)
Interaction with Other Peoples	270	(2)
Scholars and Students	272	(3)
Notes	275	(4)
Bibliography
Abbreviations	279	(1)
References	280	(30)
Plate Captions	310	(2)
Index	312