A question about Roman Optios carrying banners

[Mad Doc Morris]

The optio helmet is definitely an invention by ESG, copied over and over again to become a famous 'reenactorism'. Almost any helmet (at least from the Early Imperial period) found to date has some kind of crest holder and/or feather tubes. So these aren't distinctive. The optio might have carried a wooden staff – as would his side-kick, the tesserarius. Again, not a distinction as such. We simply don't know, if and how the Romans distinguished rank there.

The same goes for the standard bearers. Sure, there are enough depictions of them sporting bear or lion skins (no wolves, I'm afraid) to assume that this was their default equipment. However, there's still some leeway to allow for other interpretations as well. I wouldn't mind Roman standard bearers to have just the pelt without a helmet beneath – because that's what said depictions seem to tell us.

[former user]

I would like to confirm:
optiones - no proof for special headgear. the hastile should be enough

optiones were chosen by the respective CO to fulfil special duties, in the case of the O.centuriae as second in comand - I would understand that as a kind of warrant officer comissioned by the CO

signiferi were a promotional rank of high esteem - I can't imagine a combination

as to the optio draconarius - the Late Roman army is very different - he might have been simply "chosen from among the standard bearers"

I don't see a problem in using standard bearer miniatures with special "optio helmets". The real optio would have the staff that defines his function in the same way as the vitis stands for the disciplinary power of the centurion

nice miniatures btw 

[Pappa Midnight]

So the conclusions I can draw from this are:
1) I can safely use my standard bearer with his fancy helmet and won't be attacked by the " that isn't historically correct" police.
2) if I want to ask a question without feeling stupid then LAF is the place to ask (I already knew this)
3) Craig is a gent and Aventine produce awesome minis ( I also knew this)

Regards
PM

BTW Prof I am slowly collecting Roman and Celt armies. I'll post some pics when I start painting them.

[former user]

 
Yup, but don't let anyone catch You with the wrong arrangement of buttons in the napoleonic period 

[Paul]

Yup, but don't let anyone catch You with the wrong arrangement of buttons in the napoleonic period