No, they’ve had second thoughts and are coming back. I hold my ground –
Obviously discipline isn’t what it should be. They’ve started to turn on each other, maybe giving a demonstration of what a fight would be like between different legions (as did happen) –
Getting a bit personal –
The soldiers tended to join up for 25 years. At the end of their service they were awarded a bag of gold or a plot of land. No doubt those towards the end of their career chickened out a bit when it came to hard battles. They would train for four hours in morning and four in the evening – usually every day (apart from the obvious, i.e. they were fighting).
They seemed to have got the dispute out of their system and are attacking again with a skirmishing line –
They seemed to have got the dispute out of their system and are attacking again with a skirmishing line –
In battle they rarely used this. It was very tiring. They would stand three or more deep, the first line fighting for maybe ten minutes and then falling back, the next line fighting, then falling back, the third line the same and on until the first line again, who’d possibly rested a little and started again. It was like fighting a fresh army every ten minutes.
They decide I’m fairly immovable, but capable of anything. So they form a ‘testudo’ (tortoise) –
They decide I’m fairly immovable, but capable of anything. So they form a ‘testudo’ (tortoise) –
This will protect them from virtually anything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testudo_formation
But then they slip an engineer through the front to undermine, dig out underneath, the obstruction – namely the platform I’m on but could be a set of walls or anything –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testudo_formation
But then they slip an engineer through the front to undermine, dig out underneath, the obstruction – namely the platform I’m on but could be a set of walls or anything –
Trying to scare me further they form a running wedge against some of their mates to show they’re still up for it –
And they break through –
This seems to be their last gasp though. They just understand I cannot be defeated so slip away with their tails between their legs. I didn’t photograph it, I was embarrassed for them.
However, I did manage to run and capture one of them. Shitting himself he was, but I persuaded him that if he stood still for a minute I’d let him go.
So, just so you can see one close up. There’s no need to be scared, especially as now he is a bit outdated, but at the time he was the scourge of the world.
However, I did manage to run and capture one of them. Shitting himself he was, but I persuaded him that if he stood still for a minute I’d let him go.
So, just so you can see one close up. There’s no need to be scared, especially as now he is a bit outdated, but at the time he was the scourge of the world.
His armour - lōrīca segmentāta (segmented plates) was tough and flexible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorica_segmentata
His shield – scutum – made from wood and skins with a metal rim (used for hitting people with) and a central steel boss to push and aggravate the opponent. Light enough to carry for a length of time but solid enough to repel attack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutum_%28shield%29
His galea, his helmet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galea_%28helmet%29
But most importantly, his Gladius, his sword.
A relatively short instrument but deadly enough. Used in a thrusting manner it’d certainly put me off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladius
Next, in honour of our victory, came the Gladiators –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorica_segmentata
His shield – scutum – made from wood and skins with a metal rim (used for hitting people with) and a central steel boss to push and aggravate the opponent. Light enough to carry for a length of time but solid enough to repel attack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutum_%28shield%29
His galea, his helmet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galea_%28helmet%29
But most importantly, his Gladius, his sword.
A relatively short instrument but deadly enough. Used in a thrusting manner it’d certainly put me off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladius
Next, in honour of our victory, came the Gladiators –
I let the first couple live, giving the ‘thumbs up’ signal.
There was no ‘thumbs down’ signal for death. It actually was a thumb horizontal the commentary informed me.
Just so you know.
There was no ‘thumbs down’ signal for death. It actually was a thumb horizontal the commentary informed me.
Just so you know.
A few more had fights and lived –
Until the last one. I wanted death –
And I got it –
Unfortunately my daughters screamed at the blood (much to the amusement of other onlookers now gathered).
Perhaps no SAS/Spetsnaz/Seals for them then?
After clearing the Hippodrome the slightly amateurish chariots arrived, further to gain my favour.
Difficult to achieve authenticity but fair enough, it was getting a bit hot for them and I accepted their tribute–
Perhaps no SAS/Spetsnaz/Seals for them then?
After clearing the Hippodrome the slightly amateurish chariots arrived, further to gain my favour.
Difficult to achieve authenticity but fair enough, it was getting a bit hot for them and I accepted their tribute–
I allowed all participants to return to the field and thanked them for their time, but warned them not to try and attack me again –
On the way back to the car I spotted that at least there is some renovation taking place –
So that was it.
A short drive back to the capital, an ice cream and settle down to type this up.
A short drive back to the capital, an ice cream and settle down to type this up.