Pages: 257-266

Inscriptions on Roman “parade” armour, as suggested by some researchers, could be part of the commemorative practice of the Roman soldiers. It is quite obvious that, contrary to Olson’s hypothesis, these inscriptions were not visible to colleagues and spectators during military parades, and so their commemorative purpose is questionable. It is more logical to assume their role as a sign of belonging to a particular owner in the event of a possible loss. The author concludes that commemoration can only be considered as an additional component of inscriptions. The main purpose of their appearance on the Roman “parade” armour, nevertheless, needs to ensure identification with their owner.

Keywords: inscriptions on armament, Roman helmets, defensive armour, Roman “parade” armour, decorative helmets, Axel Guttmann’s collection.

Information about author:

Andrey Negin (Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky. Gagarin Ave., 23, Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]