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I am genuinely interested in stuff like this even if its a rabbit hole of ginormous proportions

Quote from: Duncan Head on May 09, 2024, 09:05:37 PMShould be quicker, though.

Yup, they paint up in a flash!

Should be quicker, though.

Quote from: Imperial Dave on May 09, 2024, 03:10:45 PMI mean who wants to paint 200+ just-tunics

Surely one of those gallic armies where everyone allegedly fought naked would be even worse?

the other thing I considered is that it looks a bit more dynamic and 'flouncy' . I mean who wants to paint 200+ just-tunics

Quote from: Imperial Dave on May 09, 2024, 01:43:56 PM

Quote from: Duncan Head on May 09, 2024, 10:25:38 AMPolybios on Telamon:

QuoteThe Insubres and Boii wore their trousers and light cloaks, but the Gaesatae had discarded these garments ... But when the javelineers advanced, as is their usage, from the ranks of the Roman legions and began to hurl their javelins in well-aimed volleys, the Celts in the rear ranks indeed were well protected by their trousers and cloaks ...

As ever, a fount of knowledge Duncan

He is!  I, however, come up with a sculptor's excuse...

Quote from: Duncan Head on May 09, 2024, 10:25:38 AMPolybios on Telamon:

QuoteThe Insubres and Boii wore their trousers and light cloaks, but the Gaesatae had discarded these garments ... But when the javelineers advanced, as is their usage, from the ranks of the Roman legions and began to hurl their javelins in well-aimed volleys, the Celts in the rear ranks indeed were well protected by their trousers and cloaks ...

As ever, a fount of knowledge Duncan

Not replying....no....not a word....

Perhaps a cloak is a sculptor's expedient for covering a lot of details that would otherwise be visible on an uncloaked figure?

An interesting question. Warriors with cloaks certainly appear in early medieval art.  Whether that means that men fought in cloaks is a more complicated question.  Not based on any deep statistical analysis - more impressions gained - taking Frankish and AS art, I'd say

• most cloaked figures are not fighting, they are standing around or travelling
• Cavalry are more likely to be cloaked
• Cloaked figures may be picked out so as to show the hero of the tale e.g. in a bible.

This art is heavily influenced by late antique conventions and, therefore, how true it is to contemporary practice must be considered with caution. However, being strictly accurate, I suspect it means my Early Medieval armies have too many cloaked infantry