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Roman Military Equipment

@equipmentroman.bsky.social
1.7K followers 133 following 781 posts

Sort-of-official BlueSky account for Roman Military Equipment (no longer just from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome) by M C Bishop & J C N Coulston Website: romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk

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rogueclassicist ~ david meadows @rogueclassicist.bsky.social · 10h
2,000-Year-Old Warship of Rome’s Great Enemy Mithridates Found in the Black Sea | Arkeonews arkeonews.net/2000-year-ol...
arkeonews.net
2,000-Year-Old Warship of Rome’s Great Enemy Mithridates Found in the Black Sea | Arkeonews
A 2,000-year-old warship linked to Mithridates VI is revealing how Black Sea shipbuilders used copper, bronze and lead to build vessels for long service.
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Velite Aquila @veliteaquila.bsky.social · 17h
Close-up of the Castellani cistae a warrior in a panoply similar to that found at Orvieto and in the Volumni hypogeum. Note the Tarantine type cuirass with epomides and short pteryges.
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Lindsay Powell FRHistS @lindsaypowell.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Coming soon! An exhibition about the Romans in Scotland is opening in Edinburgh this autumn, 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire', running from 14 November 2026 to 18 April 2027 at the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street. www.nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
nms.ac.uk
Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire | National Museums Scotland
'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire' will reshape our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world.    This exhibition will bring
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
On the subject of musical instruments, here's the tombstone of the #RomanCavalry rider (EQues) Andes from Mainz ... but what's that next to his inscription die? Is that a squashed cornu ... or a trombone?!
Tombstone of the cavalryman Andes of the ala Claudia depicted with a musical instrument in the lower (die) panel with the inscription. He is trampling a barbarian and wielding a spear, but no mention is made of him being a musician. Image: MCB (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Velite Aquila @veliteaquila.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Two distinct Lucanian tomb frescoes depicting thureos as as war trophies, same ornamentation; yellow border and spina, with red coloring on the surface.
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JRMES @jrmes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Here are some mouthpieces from Carnuntum (AUT). The army used different instruments for different things, but we can't as yet distinguish which mouthpiece came from which instrument (unless one is still attached!). Of course, they also had civilian uses (eg in the amphitheatre).
A selection of copper-alloy musical instrument mouthpieces found at Carnuntum in the Museum Carnuntinum. These could have been used with the cornu, tuba, bucina, or lituus (there is currently no way of telling which is which). Image: MCB (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Toot, toot! And, yes, I did a Double-take on that headline ...
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
We have added Rudolf Fellmann's catalogue of the wooden smallfinds from Vindonissa (Römische Kleinfunde aus Holz aus dem Legionslager Vindonissa) to our Downloads page. romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/downloads#Re...
Cover of Rudolf Fellmann's catalogue of the wooden smallfinds from Vindonissa.
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Ancient Warfare magazine @ancientwarfare.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The editor role at Ancient Warfare magazine is still open for applications. If you’re passionate about ancient military history, now’s your chance—deadline extended by two weeks. bit.ly/4z219uJ
Do you want to be the editor of AW?Do you want to be the editor of AW?
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JRMES @jrmes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Today is publication day for JRMES 25/26 for 2024/25. Details of how to buy digital and dead-tree versions of the volume will appear here as soon as they are available.
Cover of volume 25/26 of the Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies for 2024/25.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The only place on the planet where I have skinny-dipped (and scared a sleeping seal in the process). Also measured dog whelks by candlelight, but then, hasn't everybody? #MesolithicMadness
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Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Scale armour from the Roman Fort at Carlisle (Luguvalium) which was found in the fort workshop. Now part of the collections at Tullie House Museum in Carlisle. 📸 My own. #RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Carlisle
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
His identity as a centurion remains contentious. Despite RIB, careful examination (by MCB, JCNC, and Jenny Hall, with a step ladder & a torch) there is NO centurial sign, just a leaf stop between the ANO & LEG (as Collingwood's drawing shows). In the 3rd century, other troops had a staff of office.
Collingwood's drawing of Vivius Marcianus' tombstone showing a leaf stop and not a centurial sign.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
www.heritagedaily.com/2026/09/celt...
heritagedaily.com
Celtic weapons discovery sheds light on Iron Age Hungary
Archaeologists working near Erdőbénye have discovered a Celtic spear and shield fittings among a collection of Iron Age artefacts, providing new evidence of Celtic communities in north-eastern Hungary...
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Absolutely. A lovely person whom Jon & I first met at ROMEC XVIIII in St Andrews. She shyly introduced herself, but it was quickly apparent that she was incredibly knowledgeable on all things equestrian once we got talking. Her enthusiasm (and frustrations) seeped into her social media posts. Eheu!
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
So perhaps the soldiers weren't all there just 'to take the waters'? www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Tombstone of L. Vitellius Tancinus from Bath (RIB 159) showing lower half of horse and rider trampling a barbarian above the inscription. Image: JCNCUpper part of a tombstone from Bath of an unidentified Roman cavalryman with oval shield and javelin. Image: JCNCDisplay of military finds from Bath (including a cavalry harness pendant and phalera and an artillery washer). Image: Simon Burchell (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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rogueclassicist ~ david meadows @rogueclassicist.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Germanic workshops near Dortmund reveal how Roman metal was recycled outside the Roman Empire | Archaeology News Online Magazine archaeologymag.com/2026/09/work...
archaeologymag.com
Germanic workshops near Dortmund reveal how Roman metal was recycled outside the Roman Empire | Archaeology News Online Magazine
Archaeologists near Dortmund found rare Germanic workshops where Roman metal scrap was melted down and reused.
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David Meyer @dajmeyer.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Visited #Colchester Castle @colmuseums.bsky.social. Tombstone is of Longinus, born in what is now Bulgaria, duplicarius in the Roman army.
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Stephen DeCasien, Ph.D. @sdecasien.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Talking about naval rams! 🗡️🌊 open.spotify.com/episode/0yaj...
open.spotify.com
Naval Warfare in Antiquity
M.A.R.E. Podcast · Episode
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
👀
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Given that it's Pius' birthday, let's celebrate with a close look at the most interesting part of a nude statue of him ...
Detail of a front view of the Ludovisi Antoninus Pius statue showing a draped garment with lappets and pteryges, identified by Robinson as an arming doublet. Image: MumblerJamie (CC BY-SA 2.0)Detail of a side view of the Ludovisi Antoninus Pius statue showing a draped garment with lappets and pteryges, identified by Robinson as an arming doublet. Image: MumblerJamie (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
This, from @todsworkshop.bsky.social, on the efficacy of the sling is rather interesting. Notable are the supersonic crack of the weapon being loosed (part of the soundscape of Iron Age Maiden Castle?), its effect on fruit and clay(!), & the resilience of a plank-built shield. youtu.be/XTc8NxP7Yl0
youtu.be
Mind Blowing POWER
YouTube video by Tod's Workshop
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I think I may be able to out-cool even that, having stayed in the visiting scholar's apartment (ie barrack block) in the Roman fort of Saalburg (whilst studying the Zugmantel segmentata) and handed the ginormous front gate key in case I wanted to pop into town.
The barrack verandah at Saalburg, part of which contains modern accommodation for visiting scholars (and fort nerds). Image: MCB
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Durotriges Dig @durotrigesdig.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A Roman sword and dagger with scabbard from Hod Hill On display together for the 1st time at Dorset Museum 📷 Sep 2026 As Peaches and Herb famously said: Reunited, and it feels so good Reunited cos we understood There's one perfect fit And centurion this one is it #RomanFortThursday
Photograph of finds in a museum case with a rusty iron dagger at the centre, with decorated scabbard to the left, and rusty sword with ornate handle at the right
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
What's the point of #ReliefWednesday? Well, this may be it (pun wholly intentional): a depiction of a dagger, scabbard, belt with apron straps, and a book of writing tablets (and an accompanying stylus?) on a block from Pula (HRV).
Relief depicting a dagger and scabbard attached to a belt and belt plates and four straps of an apron, as well as a book of writing tablets and, possibly, a stylus. Image: JCNC
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Velite Aquila @veliteaquila.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
ENG/ESP Weapons from the Scocchera tomb A, found near Canosa. These were excavated unprofessionally in the 1890's then scattered across public and private collections so finding details on them is a bit annoying.
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History Rage Podcast @historyrage.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
🚨 THIS WEEK🚨 🏛️⚓ Rome wasn't built by legions alone. @sdecasien.bsky.social reveals why naval power was essential to Roman success across the Mediterranean. 🌊 🎧 Listen now: pod.fo/e/60c28c #HistoryRage #AncientRome #RomanNavy #HistoryPodcast ⚔️
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The Fox version (which they class as 'lifestyle' 🙄) is way less informative on Šurany than the SAS account (unsurprisingly).
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Lorica segmentata and squamata from Šurany in Slovakia www.sav.sk/index.php?la...
sav.sk
News - Archaeologists Discover Roman Military Camp from the Time of Marcus Aurelius Near Šurany
Slovak Academy of Sciences carry out top-level basic research and long-term strategic and applied research and development.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Today, we are going to tell a story of interpretation. Here is my photo (from 1982) of the tombstone of G. Valerius Crispus of legio VIII Augusta from Wiesbaden (DEU). Note those dinky little scaly shorts; we'll come back to those.
Tombstone of C. Valerius Crispus of legio VIII Augusta from Wiesbaden. Image: MCB
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Amusingly, whilst currently scanning old slides, I came across several of the ESG from Kirby Hall in 2001 (when they recreated a complete centuria ... with a little help from their friends 😉). #SinSinSinDexSin
The Ermine Street Guard (and members of other re-enactor groups) march from left to right, headed by their centurion, recreating an entire centuria at Kirby Hall (GBR) in 2001. Image: MCB
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Forest Archaic Collective @forestcollectiv.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
🧵/ The collection has some fantastic wood finds These shields from an attack of around 100 warriors from around 350BC - the victors casting the defeated forces arms into a bog, thus preserving them beautifully #FindsFriday
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Antiquity Journal @antiquity.ac.uk · 11/09/2026
On the Roman frontiers during this period, particularly the Rhenish Limes, artefacts called Aucissa fibulae are often found. A type of brooch, they were popular with the military and even became fashionable amongst civilians after AD 14. 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 2/2
A brooch made from a curved piece of metal, viewed from four angles.
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Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A wooden #Roman sword, found in a fort at Oberaden (Germany). It is pretty much full-size, so was probably a training sword rather than a toy. It is not a tradition straight sword, but a curved sica - a blade originally from Dacia & Thrace, & also used by thraex-type gladiators #AncientBlueSky
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Antiquity Journal @antiquity.ac.uk · 10/09/2026
Small fragments of mail from across the Roman Empire. Used by craftworkers to repair damaged armour similarly to patching up textiles, they indicate recycling and repair of equipment was common in the Roman army #ZeroWasteWeek 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 🏺 #Archaeology
Small segments of rusted chainmail.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
We have added the ironwork and non-ferrous catalogues for the excavations at the Augustan legionary fortress of Haltern to our Downloads page. romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/downloads#Re...
Cover of Harnecker's catalogue of ironwork finds (including the military equipment) from Haltern.Cover of Müller's catalogue of non-ferrous finds (including the military equipment) from Haltern.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Here's a rather jolly new scabbard chape from Vindolanda. arkeonews.net/an-enamelled...
arkeonews.net
An Enamelled Roman Sword Fitting Emerges From a 1,800-Year-Old Layer at Vindolanda | Arkeonews
Archaeologists at Roman Vindolanda have uncovered a copper-alloy scabbard chape with enamelled decoration from a 2nd-century context.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
One of the most important surviving #RomanCavalry helmets from the Late Principate since it marks the reunification of battle and face-mask helmets into one, multifunction defence. You can read more about it in my Osprey blog here: www.ospreypublishing.com/us/osprey-bl...
ospreypublishing.com
ROMAN CAVALRY HELMETS - Osprey
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Interestingly, the prevalence of inlay (including silver, brass, copper, & enamel) on both daggers and their scabbards indicates this was not restricted to officers' weapons. Even auxiliaries used their decorated weaponry for collateral on loans (P. Vindob. L135: papyri.info/current/1627... ).
papyri.info
Anubis could not load its JavaScript. The server may be overloaded. Please reload the page to try again.
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Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
This #Roman pugio (dagger) decorated with inlays (silver and brass) was discovered in 2019 in Crap Ses, Switzerland with other military equipment. So far, only four examples of this type are known. Dating 2nd half of the 1st c. BC. 📷️Amt für Kultur/Archäolog. Dienst Graubünden 🏺#archaeology
A dagger shown in two views, full and close-up. The corroded blade is wide and tapers to a worn point. The hilt features decorative inlays of silver ivy leave shapes running down its center, with a crossguard decorated by a faint repeating Greek key-pattern design. The dagger’s surface is rough due to his age but its ornate details remain visible.
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Dr Crom @doccrom.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The Nijmegen Helmet: a visored Roman cavalry display helmet of silvered bronze and iron: ca. Early 2nd Century AD. Busts embellish the diadem; and the name 'Marcianus' is scratched into the right cheek. #Archaeology 🏺 Image: Valkhof Museum (XXI.1.4). Link - valkhofmuseum.nl/en/verdiepin...
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
This is a rather delightful Niederbieber-typ helmet cheek piece with incised decoration. It bears a figure of Mars wielding a spear, with the cheek pieces on his helmet flipped up (a common trope) ... but wait, what's that hovering next to his left shoulder? Is it a crested Niederbieber helmet!?
Detail of a Niederbieber-type helmet cheek piece (on display at Museum Carnuntinum) with an incised figure of Mars, with a possible crested Niederbieber-type helmet next to his left shoulder. Image: MCBNiederbieber-type helmet cheek piece (on display at Museum Carnuntinum) with covered ear (perforated with three holes) and broad flange. It is decorated with an incised figure of Mars wielding a spear, with a possible crested Niederbieber-type helmet next to his left shoulder. Image: MCB
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Leicestershire Fieldworkers @lfieldworkers.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
'The Massive Melsonby Iron Age Hoard' by Dr Sophie Adams (British Museum) in the Rattray Lecture Theatre at the University of Leicester on Thursday September 17 at 7.30pm. An annual joint lecture with @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social. FREE, all welcome
Part of the wagon decorations
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Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The iron base of a #Roman helmet facemask, from the Romano-German battlefield at Kalkriese (Germany) - site of a Roman defeat, probably the AD Varus Disaster. It originally had a silver top layer which was stripped off during looting - giving it a particularly haunting look... #AncientBlueSky
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
One suspects a more popular account might also go down quite well (a bit like the rams ... sorry).
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The details on this (right down to the fastenings on the central centurion's paenula) are stunning (and it is in much better condition than the comparable Plutei Traiani).
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Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A lead sling-shot bullet bearing a Greek inscription ‘DEXAI’ meaning ‘Take that!’ or ‘Catch! 🎯 Quite literally having the last word in ancient Greek warfare! From Athens, 400 BC -1 BC. 📷 British Museum www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o... #EpigraphyTuesday #Archaeology
The British Museum image shows a grey, almond-shaped lead sling-shot bullet on a red display background. It is inscribed in high relief with the Greek word ΔΕΞΑΙ (transliteration DEXAI) meaning ‘Take that!’ or ‘Catch!’. It measures 4.3 cm in length and weighs 105.16 gms.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Przeworsk culture military equipment from a scrapyard?! archaeologymag.com/2026/08/shie...
archaeologymag.com
1,800-year-old shield boss with cremated human bones rescued from Polish scrap yard | Archaeology News Online Magazine
A 1,800-year-old shield boss found in a Polish scrap yard contains cremated human bones from a lost Przeworsk culture burial.
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Roman Military Equipment @equipmentroman.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
🎶 A Mars a day helps you work, rest, and play 🎶
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Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
This extraordinary helmet is a lavish example of a Celtic style worn primarily during the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Its dome and neck guard were forged from a single thin sheet of iron, then embellished with ornamental bronze bands worked into flowing vegetal motifs. Inlays of reddish ...🧵1/3 📷 me
A dome-shaped helmet displayed in a glass museum case, richly decorated with ornamental bronze bands worked into flowing vegetal motifs. Inlays of reddish coral or sea-snail shell once added striking flashes of colour. Two curved side tubes and a vertical finial on top.
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