Centurion Helmet Plume Colors

[Erosthenes]

Is there any scholarship on the color of plumes for Centurions, Tribunes, or Praetorians? I have the basic starter set and it has a selection of all the Legionary types (I know, choir - sorry guys). The sources I have (Osprey) show various colors of Centurion plumes but I have not determined if there were any specifics for a particular Legion, or Cohort. In other words, did the Primus Pilus wear a different color plume from the other Centurions? Were lower ranking Centurions wearing one color, different from the more senior Cohorts? I have played historical miniatures for years, and maybe I am getting to hung up on uniformity in the ranks!? lol

Any wisdom is better than mine........

Eros

[Biggus Dickus]

Any colour you want, have fun, have a look at all the pictures we have all posted and take your pick, do what you want to do ....there are no rules, no facts...only opinions...
They are just toy soldiers.........I'll just get flak for that anyway.....but it's true

[Invisible officer]

@B.D. ACK ACK

No, you are right, there are no recorded colours for ranks. Just don't use imperial / senatorical purple and you can't fail.

[Biggus Dickus]

@B.D. ACK ACK

No, you are right, there are no recorded colours for ranks. Just don't use imperial / senatorical purple and you can't fail.

hehehehehhehe...I've got my Flak jacket on today....the shells are just bouncing off

My personal favourite is alternate black and white...I tried this on my most recent Centurion...but I didn't make a very good job of it so it ended up off white....still looks nice...pictures Thursday hopefully.

The only time I would think Purple could possibly be used is on Praetorians plumes....and i'd guess that would be down to the emperors personal choice and his bank account..and of course availability of dye from the sea snail farms you'd need quite a harvest.........it seems unlikely.

which is why I went with the equally unlikely black...but it does look nice.......

[NORTIVS MAXIMVS]

Hi Guys

Following from BD’s contribution, I read here that a striped centurion's crest marked him out as a specialist:
http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Roman_Gallic_H_Helmet_Special_Command_AH-6066c.html

Here's one of mine, a war machines commander (not a great picture, sorry ):



... sometimes the replica-manufacturer’s web sites are worth a look:

http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Roman.html

Helpful painting and modeling references too ... some would probably be dyed while others may have been natural colours - so I guess there is the variety of horse hair to consider too ...

Cheers
Paul

[Erosthenes]

I am humbled! My Romans will never look as good as y'alls! A standard to live up too! Thanks for the pic - it is great. I will remember hat. Special plumes for special guys is a bit daunting considering I am reading through Bohec's Imperial Roman Army, and everyone seemed to have a special job in a Legion. Amazing organizations! How is it I never got into this period before.....Caratucus, Boudicae, and lions and tigers - oh my!

[Biggus Dickus]

I am humbled! My Romans will never look as good as y'alls! A standard to live up too! Thanks for the pic - it is great. I will remember hat. Special plumes for special guys is a bit daunting considering I am reading through Bohec's Imperial Roman Army, and everyone seemed to have a special job in a Legion. Amazing organizations! How is it I never got into this period before.....Caratucus, Boudicae, and lions and tigers - oh my!

No problem we still want to see pictures! You stay on here long enough and you'll be painting like a pro in no time!

Oh by the way...don't tell anyone but Romans are best

[clivethecelt]

BD wrote

...don't tell anyone but Romans are best

... dead!
@Erosthenes: I know what you mean - these guys are terrific (and terrifying) painters!

[Correus]

Following from BD’s contribution, I read here that a striped centurion's crest marked him out as a specialist:
http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Ro ... 6066c.html

Not disputing the information, just pointing out a pet-peeve of mine.

Whenever a statement like this is made it would be nice if they would cite the reference!!!!

BTW - nice minis NM!

[Invisible officer]

Correus is absolutely correct, a modern copy maker's catalogue is hardly to be trusted if he gives no clue how he came to the idea the spcialists wore that type of crista . Advertisement?

Is there any Roman text that claims such a marking? No. Roman authors are very vague about the details of the military dress.
The Centurion was denoted by the crista transversalis. But we have no informations about different colours for the different cohorts or ranks.

Livius tells us in his Xth book that the helmet plume cuts no wounds. It's just decoration.

And in imperial time it was worn only for parades and pay day by the ordinary soldier. In the later imperial army the crista fell into disuse.