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malaskor — Officer in the Roman Legion

Published: 2006-09-06 03:48:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 12458; Favourites: 131; Downloads: 237
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Description To be exact the Optio of the swiss reenactment group Vexilliato Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis (or short: Leg XI CPF).

Taken during the "Römerfest" in Hüfingen (Germany), a former founding by the Romans who had built there a castle (around the years 37 to 45 AD), bath and other buildings which later developed into a small town then known as "Brigobannis". The castle was part of the Danubian Limes in the province of Germania Superior (number 41 on this map: [link] ).

Stamped bricks mark the Roman bath to be one of the oldest military baths north of the Alps - it was built around 69 to 101 AD by soldiers of the Leg XI CPF which was mostly stationed in the province Helvetia (Swizerland) - headquartered in Vindonissa (Windisch) - but also manned outposts along the limes in Germania Superior and Raetia.

This legionaire is (as already mentioned) the optio of this group, he is armored with the lorica segmentata (lamellar armor), scutum (shield), a gallo-roman helmet (cassia) and is armed with the gladius hispaniensis (short swort) and the pugio (military dagger). The staff is afaik a sign of his command - during battle drills it is used to point out the places (head or feet) that are to be attacked.

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For more on the reenactment group Leg XI CPF go here: [link] (page in German)
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Comments: 17

jefffletcher [2014-03-20 14:42:15 +0000 UTC]

Overall

Vision

Originality

Technique

Impact


First of all, kudos to whoever made this costume! It must have cost a fortune, but it sure looks awesome. For some reason, I always thought the two extra "side feathers" were more a feature of the early, Pre-Marius Roman Army, but then again, I guess there's no evidence to suggest that Imperial Legionaries didn't also wear them too. My only major gripe is that I wish I could see more of that awesome armor behind that shield! But oh well, the shield too has a pretty good paint job. Overall, I have to give this guy 5/5 for the effort.

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AMELIANVS In reply to jefffletcher [2016-07-02 19:35:51 +0000 UTC]

Before Marius reforms,Roman army already had several centuries long history in its backs and also several forms.So its not line Roman army before Marius and after him.Roman army was reformed and changed even several times before Marian reforms.I dont know what you mean when you talk about your association of two side feathers being a feature of pre-marian Roman army.They actually typically wore 3 feathers in that period directly preceeding it(Punic wars and the height of the republic after them) but these were inserted not at the side of helmets but in the middle by crest holder.A horse hair crest appeared in time after Punic wars too(and was used even at the times of Marius and Julius Caesar).Imperial legionaries certainly used feathered crests on their helmets-in fact almost all crest we have captured from "classical" imperial period are made of feathers.Side way feathers are also known from imperial art but it is not known for sure if rank of Optiones really used it as distinction of their rank or not.It is a theory not mentioned in any preserved ancient work,based on the fact that we know centurions during Republic and early empire wore special transverse oriented crest as a visual sing of their rank so perhaps even theirs 2nd in command-optiones,used something similar and there are recovered helmets which obviously had holders for feathers for insertations of two side feathers.

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Dreaminginneon1985 [2019-10-05 02:44:12 +0000 UTC]

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YOURIninjaCOSPLAY [2017-08-06 00:13:31 +0000 UTC]

This officier secondaire Of centurion , this "Optio" équivalent Of lieutenant to day.

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YOURIninjaCOSPLAY [2017-08-06 00:13:11 +0000 UTC]

This officier secondaire Of centurion , this "Optio" équivalent Of lieutenant to day.

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wnter06 [2016-02-16 05:52:47 +0000 UTC]

 

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Chaos-Sama321 [2014-03-19 17:04:53 +0000 UTC]

Amazing the armor is superb; the shield is beautifully designed and it all looks accurate!

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terencethet-rex [2013-06-25 18:31:09 +0000 UTC]

so hes a centurion

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RyanRyzzo In reply to terencethet-rex [2013-07-28 11:26:22 +0000 UTC]

nope; he is an optio which is one rank below a centurion.

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holyromanempireepic [2012-07-02 00:41:45 +0000 UTC]

cool!

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Valkyrja-Skuld [2009-11-28 10:40:04 +0000 UTC]

I love re-enactment...and this is just beautiful!

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gingi81 [2007-07-11 15:06:36 +0000 UTC]

yeah,it's a cool armor!enjoy to see this

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malaskor In reply to gingi81 [2007-09-03 15:36:16 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much

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nigellus [2007-01-30 08:21:39 +0000 UTC]

Wow, this is a wondrful Photo, and i like the Optio's armour, its so cool.

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malaskor In reply to nigellus [2007-02-08 01:15:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for the comment

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Patroclos [2006-12-29 08:41:49 +0000 UTC]

heey these are really cool stuff. I love roman and greek stuff and reenactments, you're lucky you've got a chance to see such things

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malaskor In reply to Patroclos [2007-02-10 20:02:47 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for the comment
And I agree, I was lucky to see them.

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