I really enjoyed the assembly and painting of this 75mm scale white metal figure from Pegaso Models. The details are superb, the pose of the figure is quite static, but still heroic. The kit offers two options for the helmet decoration, a greek style one and an italian style. I selected the italian style. I painted the figure with acrylic paints from Revell and Lifecolor. Oil painty were used for the shades. I made the little base on my own, using earth and herbage from my garden. The Roman military uniform was profoundly influenced by the Greek culture and the poulous living on the fringes of the Mediterranean Sea. Rome evolved from Etruscan origins and had strong ties with the Magna-Greek world. This cross pollination of cultures meant that the Romans assimilated different aspects of dress and weaponry in their panoply of culture. This "Etruscan-Greek" influence in weaponry is evident on the relief of the tombs of the Romans of the higher social classes whic depict the grand oplon shield, the montefortino helmet, the ocrea and the Hellenistic type swords. A good example of these are on the tombs found at Rilievi di Cerveteri, dated from the end of the IV and beginning of the III Century B.C. The III Century was the epoch in which Rome expanded into southern Italy. During this century it had decisive victories against the Etruscans and Samnites, were engaged in a series of wars against the cities of Magna-Greece, fought against Taranto and Phyrrus before confronting the Carthaginians during the first Punic War (264-241). In the centre of the Mediterranean world, Rome adpoted the main elements of the Hellenistic world, enrichting itself and trying to transcend this Greek cultural heritage and legacy. Roman military officers: Tribune of the soldiers Each year the Tribal Assembly elected 24 young men in their late twenties with senatorial ambitions to serve as Tribunes of the Soldiers (tribunes militium). These 24 were distributed six to each of the consuls' four legions as the legions' commanding officers. All middle-ranking officers of the legions were also titled tribunes, though they were unelected and junior to the tribunum militi. Tribune of the Celeres The Tribune of the Celeres (tribunus celerum) was the commander of the personal bodyguard of the Roman King, the "Celeres", during the days of the Roman Kingdom. While the three original curia (Ramnes, Tities, and Luceres) were each headed by a Tribune, the Tribune of the Celeres did not lead any such curia. Rather, he was second in rank to the Roman King, could pass laws (lex tribunicia), and could theoretically preside over the Curiate Assembly in an attempt to deprive the king of his constitutional powers (his imperium), and thus his office. Occasionally, during a war, the Roman King might take command of the infantry, but delegate command of the cavalry to the Tribune of the Celeres. In this respect, the arrangement was revived after the fall of the monarchy, and during the years of the Roman Republic, between the Roman Dictator ("Master of the Infantry") and his Master of the Horse ("Master of the Cavalry"). Cohort commander Tribunus Cohortis: commander of military unit. Tribunus Cohortis Urbanae: urban cohort commander. Tribune of the treasury The duties of the tribunes of the treasury (tribuni aerarii) are somewhat shrouded in mystery. Originally they seem to have been tax collectors, but this power was slowly lost to other officials. By the end of the Republic it was a class of people slightly below the equites in wealth. In 70 BC the makeup of Roman juries was reformed, and 1/3 of all members were to be tribunes of the treasury. Various offices Tribunal: a raised platform in front of the HQ used for addressing the troops or administering justice. Tribunus: senior officer. In the late Roman army, alternatively called a comes, he was a commander of a cavalry regiment. The title survived in the East Roman army until the early 7th century, hellenized as tribounos. Tribunus angusticlavius: "narrow-striped officer"; equestrian legionary officer, five to each legion. Tribunus comitiatus: officer elected as tribunus militum by the comitia. Tribunus laticlavius: "broad-striped officer"; senatorial legionary officer, second in command of a legion. Tribunus militum: senior legionary officer. Tribunus militum a populo: senior legionary officer appointed by popular assembly. Tribunus rufulus: officer picked by the commander. Tribunus sexmestris: tribune serving a tour of duty of only six months; note that there is absolutely no evidence at all to identify this officer as commander of the legionary cavalry as sometimes stated in modern literature. Tribunus vacans: Late Roman unassigned tribune; staff officer. (Wikipedia) Music: Jeff van Dyck "Rome Total War- Divinitus"

• published: 24 Sep 2011
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