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Page 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This was being sold as a fitting for a Roman quiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arrow Heads from the Roman period. These pictures are from Ebay. The smaller arrow heads are probably sporting or hunting heads as they are too small to fit on a shaft which would withstand the forces in a war bow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Although not mentioned on any inscription in stone this unit of auxiliary bowmen is eloquently attested at the fort, in the shape of a tombstone of an auxiliary soldier. This second century tombstone (vide sinister) suggests the presence of at least part of Cohors I Hamiorum Sagittariorum, a regiment of bowmen from Syria. The tombstone is unfortunately uninscribed but carries a carved image undoubtedly of an archer, armed with a peculiarly curved bow. The First Cohort of Hamian Bowmen is the only such regiment known to have been stationed in Britain and they have been attested at the nearby fort at Magnis (Carvoran, Northumberland) on the Stanegate, where they were stationed in Hadrianic times. They would undoubtedly have proved an excellent defensive unit, able to shoot some considerable distance from the northern battlements of the Housesteads fort. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A post from Roman Army Talk Hamian archer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are also at least two archers known from Germay (I believe both are from Mainz), namely Monimus and Iulius Abdes Pantera. Monimus is shown from the waist up, shrouded in his paenula as if it was a very cold day, but Pantera is kitted out in exactly the same way as most other 1st century depictions of standing soldiers from the Rhineland, in a short tunic with military belts and caligae. The only real difference between Pantera and other stones is his bow, whereas other soldiers carry spears or pila. As far as I know the evidence for archers in long robes is limited to Trajan's column. The picture of the archer from Housteads on your web page is a computer reconstruction which has enhanced what it assumes are the original details of what is now a very worn sculpture. Looking at the original in the Museum of Antiquities in Newcastle-upon-Tyne it is very difficult to determine what some parts actually looked like. For example, he appears to be holding something horizontally at waist height. Is it an extremely short axe, as many people think? Is it some sort of machete as some others think? Or could it even be an arrow, as one person suggested to me? The identification as an axe depends on the exact nature of a small raised line a few inches below the presumed end of the horizontal object. It may indeed have been intended as the edge of an axehead, but then again it may just be a result of later damage. The head of the figure is very small in comparison to the rest of the body (which is itself rather badly proportioned) and is extremely worn. I will leave it to others who have seen it up close more often than I have to make the final call, but according to my understanding there is not enough detail left on the head even to really determine where the helmet starts and the head finishes (or even if he ever had a face). Sorry to dissappoint but I'm afraid that's the way it is. |
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Picture and Text from | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.roman-britain.org/places/vercovicium.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This Tombstone is quoted as the evidence for Eastern archers By Re-enactors. They wear a long tunic that almost reaches the ground. However you can clearly see he is wearing a standard length tunic. In my opinion a long Tunic would be no use in England as it would get wet and catch on brambles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tombstones of Roman archers found in Germany. Pictures from RomanArmy.com Roman Army Talk This website has lively Discussion Forums and a suberb image database |
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Monimus / Ierombali f(ilius) / mil(es) c(o)hor(tis) I / Ituraeor(um) / ann(orum) L stip(endiorum) XVI / h(ic) s(itus) est |
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Monimus, son of Jerombal, soldier of Cohors I Ituraeorum, 50 years of age, 16 years of service, lies here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tib(erius) Iul(ius) Abdes Pantera / Sidonia ann(orum) LXII / stipen(diorum) XXXX miles exs(!) / coh(orte) I sagittariorum / h(ic) s(itus) e(st) |
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Tiberius Iulius Abdes Pantera from Sidonia, aged 62 years, served 40 years, former soldier of the Cohors I Sagittariorum, lies here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||