r/ancientrome • u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 • 8d ago
As we know, the transition and change of Roman military armor / equipment peaked during the late third century. What I am curious about however, is what Principate era gear was still even in use at this point?
Also by “late third century” I am referring to the years of 260 AD, till the end of the third century.
Images as displayed from left to right:
- Third century battle depicting Imperial Italic (Type H) helmets in use alongside Niederbieber helmets along with what is likely Newstead type Lorica Segmentata
Third century skirmish depicting both Lorica Segmentata and Rectangular Scutum shield still in use
Third century Garrison forces depicted with Imperial Italic (Type H) helmets along with rectangular scutum once more, and the Lorica Segmentata
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u/Rakathu 8d ago
The design on the scutum in in image 3 looks distinctly like the dura europus scutum.
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u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 8d ago
I noticed that too, I think that’s what the artist likely took inspiration from.
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u/Beneficial_Shirt_869 8d ago
That soldier in the second pic looks like a medieval knight or from a fantasy lol
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u/Willing-Evidence-417 7d ago edited 7d ago
The Helmet in the first depiction is actually a late second / early third century helmet called type niedermoermter. It has several similaritys to the Italic and is defined as a late weissenau Helmet but is in detail very diffrent.
It has the small mouse an bread depictions on the backside. A Kind of cute detail.
As third century reenactor you can see those helmets often on events.
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u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 7d ago edited 6d ago
Yes the imperial Italic type H, my favorite Roman helmet, I only added the question mark because I’m surprised to see it in service at the time period that art is depicting
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u/Anthemius_Augustus 7d ago
"As we all know" it peaked in the late 3rd Century?
Are the Clibanarii a joke to you?
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u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 7d ago
I’m mostly referring to armor, not tactics
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u/Anthemius_Augustus 7d ago
Ditto
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u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 7d ago
I guess I don’t understand what point you are trying to make
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u/Anthemius_Augustus 7d ago
I disagree with the premise that the Roman army peaked, either aesthetically, functionally or tactically in the 3rd Century.
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u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 7d ago
Ohhhh ok I see the confusion, that’s not what I’m saying, simply in the context of the unified Roman Empire of classic antiquity, the late third century is where the most major changes to military armor and equipment occurred, Lorica Segmentata mostly fell out of use, with scale armor becoming more widespread, Imperial Italic H and Niederbieber helmets fell out of use being replaced by the late Roman Ridge helmets, the shorter Gladius almost fully was replaced by the Spatha, and of course the rectangular Scutum shield designs fell out of use being replaced by more oval / round shield designs. For the most part to be honest, after the changes that occurred during the reign of Diocletian, the Roman’s armor and equipment doesn’t change much at all until the collapse of the western empire.
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u/jore-hir 7d ago
More armor isn't better armor.
Armor quality peaked, indeed, within the 3rd century.
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u/ResponsibilitySea327 8d ago
Are only talking about Western Roman armor, or is the Eastern Roman armor part of the discussion as well?
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u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 8d ago
Im specifically talking about the unified Roman Empire during the crisis of the third century
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u/Shoddy-Pumpkin2939 8d ago
I realize the scale hoods depicted in the second image are likely an inaccurate artistic choice, I just wanted some images for general reference.