Roman forces ambushed at Teutoburg Forest by Germanic tribes
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There are several subtler details here which show an attention to historicity that tickle me pink (the artist, Angus McBride, was a very highly respected historical illustrator, so it's to be expected from his work).
First, note the Germanic tribesman with a knobbed wooden club - such primitive weapons were still common in Germanic warfare, even against outsiders, in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Quite the technological disadvantage - but a club can still bash in skulls and break bones!
Second, note that both of the Roman shields still have their leather marching covers on (used for protection from the elements, and usually removed before battle), signifying the suddenness of the ambush - and a dropped pack in the bottom-right corner. Likewise, one of the Romans still has his cloak on - again, worn for protection from the elements and usually removed before battle.
Third, note that one of Roman soldiers is wielding an axe-like weapon - this is a dolabra, an entrenching tool that was sometimes used in extreme circumstances as an additional weapon.
Fourth, that the Germanic tribesmen have a mixture of native style blades and Roman-style blades - both the fact that a betrayal of Roman 'allies' were key in this battle, and that there was widespread blade smuggling along the frontier, are responsible for this detail. Many weapons found in this early iron age period for the Germanic tribes were not just Roman style, but actually Roman-made. Later Germanic tribes would develop a more robust and distinct bladeworking industry.
There are several subtler details here which show an attention to historicity that tickle me pink (the artist, Angus McBride, was a very highly respected historical illustrator, so it's to be expected from his work).
First, note the Germanic tribesman with a knobbed wooden club - such primitive weapons were still common in Germanic warfare, even against outsiders, in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Quite the technological disadvantage - but a club can still bash in skulls and break bones!
Second, note that both of the Roman shields still have their leather marching covers on (used for protection from the elements, and usually removed before battle), signifying the suddenness of the ambush - and a dropped pack in the bottom-right corner. Likewise, one of the Romans still has his cloak on - again, worn for protection from the elements and usually removed before battle.
Third, note that one of Roman soldiers is wielding an axe-like weapon - this is a dolabra, an entrenching tool that was sometimes used in extreme circumstances as an additional weapon.
Fourth, that the Germanic tribesmen have a mixture of native style blades and Roman-style blades - both the fact that a betrayal of Roman 'allies' were key in this battle, and that there was widespread blade smuggling along the frontier, are responsible for this detail. Many weapons found in this early iron age period for the Germanic tribes were not just Roman style, but actually Roman-made. Later Germanic tribes would develop a more robust and distinct bladeworking industry.
Love this drawing.