Inland Library System wrote:
Hello, I'm a librarian working for a cooperative library reference center located in the Riverside (CA) Public Library. I'm working on a question I hope you can help me with, or might be able to refer me to someone else who might help. We have a library user who's asked a question about Roman armor. He'd like to know the approximate weight of the greaves, or leg protectors worn sometimes by Roman soldiers. Any help or referral you can provide would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Cecelia Mestas-Holm
Reference Librarian
Inland Library System Reference Center
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Dear Dr.Mestas-Holm:
I am pasting the text I am sending out to my "email friends" which includes some references to works which address the questions most frequently asked of me, of which questions concerning Roman arms, armour, and tactics form the largest part.
I highly recommend the Osprey military series but, at about $13.00 each for the trade publication (I don't know if library editions exist for these fine paper bound references), any library is looking at a great investment for a rather fragile resource. The excerpt from this file gives references to individual titles and sources for the books available to me in the San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose bay area.
********* Pasted text follows ******* A Note of Encouragement and a Pointer to Help For our Email Friends
If we could freely publish on this site or on the CD now in the making some of the images and text residing in the author's collection of books on Roman military history without violating some other author's intellectual property rights, we would have done so long ago. One ongoing project we are working on is a series of short articles linked together in chronological order dealing with the general history of the Roman world beginning with prehistory of Italy, going through the Roman Monarchy, Republic, Empire, and transition to Byzantine Empire and Greek culture after the fall in the West. We have in our collection several good general histories of Rome and the Roman Empire. In writing the series of mini - articles, we will include citations at the end of each of our articles referring to corresponding text in the published work and the page on which the resource can be found. If the user of this guide were to purchase a collection of books including the major works cited, then this resource could be used as a quick, organized guide and index to this collection. In the author's opinion, these works would constitute a wonderful starter collection of Roman history books, detailed enough to satisfy the needs of the more scholarly students yet with enough easy to read, interesting and varied content for the general history enthusiast, military history buff, middle school student, or coin collector. This will be an ongoing project and we will publish updates on our site from time to time.
Where to Find Roman Military Resources
The most common type of request for help this author receives by email is for information on the Roman army, images of armour, weapons, siege engines, descriptions of tactics, and outlines of the military organization. We would dearly love to publish some of the fine images we have access to in our book collection. However, we have found that permission is not forthcoming or no one seems to know how to contact those whoc can legally grant permission to use the materials.
The most detailed and best illustrated source of images of military men, their weapons, armour, and equipment is to be found in the publications of the Osprey Press Military Series of publications. Currently, these are organized into four series, Men - at - Arms, Warrior, Elite, and New Vanguard. Within these series, some books in the author's collection include:
Early Roman armies (Men - at - Arms Series)
Armies of the Carthagenian Wars 265 - 146 BC (Men - at - Arms Series)
Republican Roman Army 200 - 104 BC (Men - at - Arms Series)
The Roman Army Fron Caesar to Trajan (Men - at - Arms Series)
The Roman Army Fron Hadrian to Constantine (Men - at - Arms Series)
Romano - Byzantine Armies 4th - 9th Centuries (Men - at - Arms Series)
Byzantine Armies 886 - 1118 (Men - at - Arms Series)
The Praetorian Guard (Elite Series)
Late Roman Infantryman 235 - 565 AD (Warrior Series)
Rome's Enemies 1: Germanics and Dacians (Men - at - Arms Series)
Rome's Enemies 2: Gallic and British Celts (Men - at - Arms Series)
Rome's Enemies 3: Parthians & Sassanid Persians (Men - at - Arms Series)
There are several titles in addition to these which deal with the early Medieval period, including:
Germanic Warrior 236 - 568 AD (Warrior Series)
Anglo - Saxon Thegn 449 - 1066 AD (Warrior Series)
Arthur and the Anglo - Saxon Wars (Men - at - Arms Series)
The Age of Charlemagne (Men - at - Arms Series)
Saxon, Viking, and Norman (Men - at - Arms Series)
These books are written by various authors and are filled with photographs of weapons and equipment excavated from ancient sites as well as some reproductions created by modern armourers and craftsmen. The excellent work of two talented illustrators, Angus McBride and Richard Hook is featured in several of these volumes. These volumes deal with much detailed information to those who paint military miniatures, reenact ancient battles and produce living history disoplays of ancient encampments, construct models of artillery weapons such as onagers and ballistae, those engaged in wargaming activities using set - piece battlefield reconstructions involving detailed terrain and scenery, and others who work with physical or visual representations of history.
Names of other authors who have contributed to these series include: Terence Wise, Peter Wilcox, Nick Sekunda, Simon Northwood, Ian Heath, Simon Macdowell, Gerry Embleton, Ronald Embleton, Michael Simkins, David Nicolle, and Mark Harrison
Two excellent and highly readable books by Tim Newark include The Barbarians (1985) and Medieval Warlords (1987), both published by Blandford Press, Poole and Dorset, England.
Another good book whose first chaper is particularly relevant is Arms and Armor of the medieval Knight by David Edge and John Miles Paddock, published by Crescent Books, Ltd (originally Saturn House) 1996 -- For a very nice selection of high quality images of weapons and helmets extending from late Roman times through medieval times, this reference can't be topped.
There are a couple of books that deal almost exclusively with reenactment and living history. Both are full of excellent colour photographs:
Classical Rome, Living History Series Clare, Ronald ed. New York: Gulliver Books div. of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992.
The Roman legions Recreated in Colour Photographs Peterson, Daniel London: Windrow & Greene, 1992.
For those interested in ancient sea battles, Roman quinquiremes and other warships, the sea war against carthage, Actium, and other things dealing with ancient rowed warships and naval warfare, try these titles:
Salamis Nelson, Richard B. London: William Linscombe, 1975.
Ships and Seafaring in ancient Times Casson, Lionel Austin, TX. University of Texas Press, 1994.
European Naval and Maritime History 300 - 1500 Lewis, A. and Timothy Runyan Bloomington, IN University of Indiana Press, 1990.
The Ancient Mariners (The Seafarers) Thubron, Colin Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1981
Where Does One Find These Resources?
The author has found that some of these books can be a little hard to find in bookstores that serve the general public. Barnes and Noble will ofthen carry contemporary titles on Roman History that are in print, and often will have an inventory of the inexpensive Penguin Classics. To obtain the widest selection, though, the author has found three productive sources:
Often, hobby shops that cater to builders of military models or those who paint miniature military figurines will have the Osprey press series. In the author's hometown area, San Jose and Campbell, California, D and J Hobbies has a good selection of these titles.
Tea and Sympathy Bookstore -- Mainly new, obscure, and OP books, including a large selection of Osprey military, contemporary and traditional Celtic music and crafts
Scottish Images -- Contemporary in - print books, many from European and British publishing houses including a large selection of Osprey military, contemporary and traditional Celtic crafts and music.
Tel: (800) 700-0334 and (916) 362-3474
C. H. Hutchinson Weapons, armour, crafts, and coins. The author found a reasonably priced spangenhelm type helmet (suitable for late Roman infantry through English Henry II period including Anglo - Saxon and Viling warriors) and has found several quite rare coins. His coins tend to be nicer condition, usually quite scarce, and many are fairly expensive but not overpriced considering the material.
Tel: (714) 738-8380
Scottish Sword and Shield -- Patrick Tougher, the proprieter is extremely knowledgeable concerning history of weapons and armour. He can outfit you with several different kinds of swords, dirks, shields, and some other elements of armour. He has sources in Europe and Britain who can supply original antique weapons or modern handcrafted weapons that are such works of art that can fetch prices in excess of that of even many originals.
Tel: (253) 661-6193
On Line, you can browse the Museum Replicas or the Mayhawke Armory site for replica arms and armour.
Sometimes, a tour of old bookstores and garage sales is productive. Unfortunately for the beginner, those of us who have been doing this for a number of years know the right questions to ask and some of the things to look for. It is sometimes just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
Regards,
Jay King
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