Slitherine

In other words, would triarii figures look OK as thorakitai in my later seleucid army ?

I'm not sure of the make, but the particular triarii figures I'm thinking of using are in a kneeling pose.

Well apart from the manly broad chests of the Triarii compared to the lithe, effete bodies of the Thorakitai the only other difference that springs to mind is the crest on the helmet. I believe the Romans had plumes on either side of the crest whilst the Thorakitai didn't. However, I'm not sure what evidence either helmets are based on so basically, why not? I certainly wouldn't have a problem with it.

Julian

The helmet itself is likely to be an issue - Italian styles were usually different to Hellenistic - and the Roman scutum of the period was different to the thyreos the Thorakitai would have used.

Roman crest was described as feathers on top of the helmet by Polybios, however, it need not have been uniform - the only depiction of what may be a thorakitai type has no plume but that need not be typical.

oops my thorakitai have plumes of a sort on their helmets, but those are the heads the manufacturer sent with them so I had to believe it was correct.

Unless you have uniform fanatics you have to deal with while playing I would say go with what feels right to you. I suppose you could shave off the extra feathers if that is what is bothering you.

I believe the scutum was much bigger and heavier than the shield carried by thorakitae. Many versions of Triarii figures have them in Italo Corithian helmets (which is a permanently pushed back version of Corinthian) that was not in use anywhere else. Depends how "loose" you and your gaming buddies are really.

deadtorius wrote:oops my thorakitai have plumes of a sort on their helmets, but those are the heads the manufacturer sent with them so I had to believe it was correct.

Unless you have uniform fanatics you have to deal with while playing I would say go with what feels right to you. I suppose you could shave off the extra feathers if that is what is bothering you.

Actually I'm having a moment of uncertainty and the thorakitai chap I was on about may well have had a plume.

Anyway a sample of 1 is not convincing either way and there is no reason why thorakitai with plumes should be wrong.

bobm wrote:I believe the scutum was much bigger and heavier than the shield carried by thorakitae. Many versions of Triarii figures have them in Italo Corithian helmets (which is a permanently pushed back version of Corinthian) that was not in use anywhere else. Depends how "loose" you and your gaming buddies are really.

Would the shield size difference be very apparent on 15mm figures ? I think they have the Italo-Corinthian helmets with plumes. We're pretty loose with figure accuracy, so as long as it looks reasonably OK then I'll be happy with it.

Polkovnik wrote: Would the shield size difference be very apparent on 15mm figures ?

Should be if modelled properly.

nikgaukroger wrote:

Polkovnik wrote: Would the shield size difference be very apparent on 15mm figures ?

Should be if modelled properly.

..agreed