A Question About Triarii Helmets.

[Fluvius Camillus]

Yes, my Basileius, I didn't mean it that way, I just hate it when someone attributes anything to the Romans that they actually copied Not that jirisys actually did that.

You never realized the fact that without the HELP of the Romani, the Hellenic culture wouldn't have spread so much? The Romani copied the things that helped them, that adaptability made them the new prominent world power. The Romani became a world power, and the lasting presence and long period they ruled cultivated the lands. Hellene and Romani ideas were now spread amongst the complete empire. And all the admiration for Roma also promote the Hellene culture. If the collapsing Hellenic world was divided amongst Celtic tribes, Eastern peoples (Pahlavan's) and Arabians, the culture would also be somewhat absorbed and spread, but to a lesser extent as the Romani did.

Romani and Hellene culture made the Byzantine empire, Constantinople was the most important center for trade, intellectuals and power for a long time. Why not be proud of that?

And even if the Romani have copied more, they copied what was useful, the Greeks copied from Egyptians and Mesopotamians. The collection then formed of Egyptian, Greek and Mesopotamian ideas created a huge resource of useful knowledge. Why should you try to invent something radically different if the current is working perfectly. I didn't see the Greeks looking for an alternative for farming. As Satalexton said earlier:

Btw, imitation is no sin. Why not adopt something that works well?

And about the soap quote, you have to see it in the context, everyone sees that the quote is full of stereotypes, the "olive Greek" is no less a stereotype than the "unwashed barbarian". And you don't have to tell everybody that the Greeks actually don't bathe in oil all day, just as there are very few people in this well learned forum, that need informing about who invented soap.

Anyway, emotions from both sides seem to stack up far too much lately, if my school pressure gets lower, it would be a good idea to take up the gladius and the sarissa again and let off steam, in a new tournament.

But actually we were talking about a helmet.

~Fluvius

[Belisarius II]

I believe that the Apulo-Corinthian helmet relates to a thread I saw a while ago concerning Phrygian helmets.

Both helmets were created for a unique look as well as practical use. Not only did the helmets look good on the wearer, but also acted like any other helmet in protection of the wearer. To the Romans and Greeks, it was a win-win scenario.

Then again, any Mediterranean nation wanted to have the sexiest looking soldiers.

[Ludens]

Btw, imitation is no sin. Why not adopt something that works well? The Hellenes and Kelts were wonderful in that department, as did many culture like the Getai and the many kingdoms of the east.

Absolutely. There is no such things as a pure culture: societies interact and change all the time. Not always for the better, but it ridiculous to reject useful inventions solely because they are foreign.

By the way, the Romans were very good at copying a foreign invention and then adapting it for mass production. They may not have been great inventors, but it was their efficiency that made them an empire.

[jirisys]

Now, mirroring the trolling from the romaioktonoi...

Absolutely. There is no such things as a pure culture: societies interact and change all the time. Not always for the better, but it ridiculous to reject useful inventions solely because they are foreign.

By the way, the Romans were very good at copying a foreign invention and then adapting it for mass production. They may not have been great inventors, but it was their efficiency that made them an empire.

Seconded it! Best Ludens quote ever

Wow, Ludens' quote is almost worthy of romaiophilioi

Yay Ludens! You get a ballon for that

GTHO



~Jirisys (very pissed off, yet, not cursing nor violating any rules)