Aventine Roman dismounted Praetorian Cavalry Guard

[Prof.Witchheimer]

After 2,5 months without hobby I was finally enabled to get some hours for brushing yesterday. Keith from Aventine has kindly given me some weeks ago this lovely mini, actually a door figure for Albanich 2013 show:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=51180.0

In the meantime the miniature is available by Aventine in their web shop as charity item:

http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=106

I've painted him as dismounted praetorian guard cavalry officer. No idea what officer he could be, my knowledge about the command structure in the Roman cavalry units is very limited. What I know is that Equites Singulares Augusti, emperor's own home guards were formed apparently by Trajan himself. Governers of the provinces were allowed to have their own mounted bodyguard troop (mostly non-Romans, serving in the alae), and so Trajan, being the governer of the Upper Germany, took his elite troops on his way to Rome, where he wouldn't have his loyal legions behind them. That perhaps was the birth of the Praetorian cavalry troop. This assumption also based on the fact that the core of the imperial guard cavalry were originally the Batavi, so Germans.

I'm guessing the colours I've used for his uniform aren't that entirely correct but I didn't care much about it to be honest. I only was intented to have a bright nice looking figure and give some credit to Aventine. Also it's scarcely possible that they were wearing cloacks with the depiction of a scorpion (actually only known from the shield depictions) but I just couldn't withstand to paint it.

And now I'm looking forward for coming Aventine cavalry

[DaveL]

Hi Prof.

Just seen your Roman cav officer.  Wonderful paint job and I love your choice of colours.  Brilliant.  Hope you post more pictures

Best Wishes    DaveL

[Ray Rivers]

 

Very nice.

Good to hear you got a chance to wield your brush again. 

[Prof.Witchheimer]

thanks for the kind comments, guys 

[Orctrader]

 

No painting for 2¹/₂ months and you turn this out. 

Like it so much, I just bought the figure.   

[Captain Blood]

Beautiful Alex 

[Bugsda]

  Excellent job Alex.
Love the Scorpion, my son tells me that the smaller the pincer the more deadly the sting, this one looks pretty lethal.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Thanks guys!

Like it so much, I just bought the figure.   

you won't regret it, Malcolm, just let us see him painted.

Excellent job Alex.
Love the Scorpion, my son tells me that the smaller the pincer the more deadly the sting, this one looks pretty lethal.

Didn't know that, another bit of education today, after reading some articles about Praetorian cavalry

I would like to have some mounted Praetorians as well, so it wouldn't be my last scorpion or pincer

[Helen]

Nice work Alex...well done.

Helen

[Andym]

Nice to see after two and a half months you haven't lost any of your painting skills!! Lovely!!

[former user]

No, the PJ is not nice, ity absolutely awesome  

Anyway, the story of the mounted imperial guard, be it pretorian or not, is a little more complicated and also a little more dynamic between Tiberius and Trajan. Also the figure, apart from being a good sculpt, is after a relief and more an artistic impression than based on archaeological evidence. But never mind, it looks good!

[Blackwolf]

Cracking work Alex

[redzed]

After 2,5 months without hobby ...

what a comback

really excellent bit of painting.

[Michi]

That is an outstanding little Roman. I like the idea of the scorpion on the cloak, regardless if that is correct or not, but the ornamental metal painting on that helmet is really great.

[Chairface]

Vibrant is the word that describes this mini best. Lovely.