The Contributions of Reenactors

On this page and the previous two pages, Robert Garbisch portrays a Roman infantryman of the First Century A. D. The body armour, or segmented lorica, is patterned after Roman armour discovered at Newstead, in Scotland, and the Roman town of Corstopitum, near Corbridge, in England. His helmet is a copy of one found near Mainz, in Gaul. The gladius, or short sword, is an exact replica of one found in the ruins of Pompeii.

Robert has recently "revived" LEGIO X FRETENSIS, the Roman Tenth legion that was stationed in Judaea during the time of Jesus Christ and the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius. This reenactment group is devoted to researching and accurately portraying the lives of typical Roman soldiers during this period.

LEGIO X FRETENSIS schedules numerous activities throughout the year ranging from pilum and gladius practice, reenacting life in a Roman army camp or castra, and public performances in which each reenactor tells the audience about his life through the lines he speaks and the role he plays.

Some reenactors painstakingly craft reproduction arms and armour from brass and sheet steel. the result is a one of a kind work of art. There are also armourers who will custom make some of these items for the reenactor. Vendors like Museum Replicas of Conyers, Georgia manufacture and import replica arms and armour.

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