AlexanderSextus
04-14-2011, 07:47
Hey guys...I had a really cool idea for a comic book after I saw This map...Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00maplinks/early/periplus/periplusmax.jpg).
Basically the story is about a Roman Centurion who is taken fresh from the war against Dacia to serve as the head of security forces on a roman trade ship being sent to india. The security forces will be drawn from the best soldiers Rome has to offer. (including a few who are of obvious Gallic and Thracian descent, for some variety) They are supposed to catch the monsoon winds and arrive in India in order to trade. The ship leaves too early and they choose to sail down the red sea and trade with the people of Azania. They would also make a stop at Adulis in order to travel to Axum and Meroe in order to trade with Nubians and Ethiopians. There will be some interesting interactions between the Romans and Africans, as well as some fighting between the romans and certain tribal groups (just to add in some action). I also had the idea of using different color text to indicate people speaking different languages i.e. Red for Latin, Blue for Greek, Yellow for Arabic, Green and Brown for african languages (maybe a third color for another african language), etc.
The main problem i am having is that there is VERY VERY little information about more southerly african civilizations during ancient times. It is known that sub saharan Africa had iron forging technology very very early on, so i would definitely have the africans using Iron weaponry that would be adequate enough to do damage to roman troops. The romans are going to be vastly outnumbered by the africans and will have to survive by their wits and high level of tactics and training. Lorica Segmentata will NOT be used due to the extreme heat. Hamata will be the heavy armor of choice for the roman troops but even this might not be used a lot because of the climate.
I need more info on African styles of weaponry, Languages, Tribal structures, etc. One of my secondary reasons for writing this comic is to dispel the myth of Africans being nothing more than savages living in mud huts. The ancient historians never wrote anything to support this. As a matter of fact they always spoke of Africans as being sophisticated people.
Basically the story is about a Roman Centurion who is taken fresh from the war against Dacia to serve as the head of security forces on a roman trade ship being sent to india. The security forces will be drawn from the best soldiers Rome has to offer. (including a few who are of obvious Gallic and Thracian descent, for some variety) They are supposed to catch the monsoon winds and arrive in India in order to trade. The ship leaves too early and they choose to sail down the red sea and trade with the people of Azania. They would also make a stop at Adulis in order to travel to Axum and Meroe in order to trade with Nubians and Ethiopians. There will be some interesting interactions between the Romans and Africans, as well as some fighting between the romans and certain tribal groups (just to add in some action). I also had the idea of using different color text to indicate people speaking different languages i.e. Red for Latin, Blue for Greek, Yellow for Arabic, Green and Brown for african languages (maybe a third color for another african language), etc.
The main problem i am having is that there is VERY VERY little information about more southerly african civilizations during ancient times. It is known that sub saharan Africa had iron forging technology very very early on, so i would definitely have the africans using Iron weaponry that would be adequate enough to do damage to roman troops. The romans are going to be vastly outnumbered by the africans and will have to survive by their wits and high level of tactics and training. Lorica Segmentata will NOT be used due to the extreme heat. Hamata will be the heavy armor of choice for the roman troops but even this might not be used a lot because of the climate.
I need more info on African styles of weaponry, Languages, Tribal structures, etc. One of my secondary reasons for writing this comic is to dispel the myth of Africans being nothing more than savages living in mud huts. The ancient historians never wrote anything to support this. As a matter of fact they always spoke of Africans as being sophisticated people.