#RomanCavalry
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equipmentroman.bsky.social
On the subject of musical instruments, here's the tombstone of the #RomanCavalry rider (EQues) Andes from Mainz ... but what's that next to his inscription die? Is that a squashed cornu ... or a trombone?!
Tombstone of the cavalryman Andes of the ala Claudia depicted with a musical instrument in the lower (die) panel with the inscription. He is trampling a barbarian and wielding a spear, but no mention is made of him being a musician. Image: MCB (CC BY-SA 4.0)
October 3, 2026 at 6:14 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
One of the most important surviving #RomanCavalry helmets from the Late Principate since it marks the reunification of battle and face-mask helmets into one, multifunction defence. You can read more about it in my Osprey blog here: www.ospreypublishing.com/us/osprey-bl...
September 1, 2026 at 5:21 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
The strange case of the Hellvi #RomanCavalry face mask. [NB Not so sure about the link with face mask helmets and later Scandi examples; Late Roman multipartite helmets are a better match] youtu.be/NwflYuR637c?...
The ROMAN Mask Found on a VIKING Island - The Hellvi Helmet
YouTube video by Adam Morgan Ibbotson
youtu.be
August 13, 2026 at 4:59 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Even though there is no such thing as #CoffinLidMonday, we have added the Cefn on Rudry lead coffin lid, with its surprising little #RomanCavalry rider, to our 2D iconography Gallery. romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/galleries-of...
Detail of the depiction of a Roman cavalryman and horse on a lead coffin lid from Cefn on Rudry in Glamorgan (GBR). He is shown on his horse with a ?hexagonal shield with circular boss, behind which he holds a pair of javelins. Image: JCNC Depiction of a Roman cavalryman and horse on a lead coffin lid from Cefn on Rudry in Glamorgan (GBR). He is shown on his horse with a ?hexagonal shield with circular boss, behind which he holds a pair of javelins. Image: JCNC
July 27, 2026 at 5:49 AM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Some #RomanCavalry bling (with added eagles).
drnwillburger.bsky.social Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · Jul 3
#FindsFriday!
A richly decorated #Roman cavalry battle helmet, found in Theilenhofen at the Upper German-Raetian Limes.
Dating to the second half of the 2nd century AD.

On display Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg

📷 me
A highly decorated helmet made, featuring intricate reliefs of animals such as a lion and an eagle, ornate patterns along the crest, and detailed engravings on the cheek guard, displayed against a neutral background
July 3, 2026 at 1:11 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Found in Strasbourg (FRA), this stone commemorates Comnis (or Comnisca), an eques in the #RomanCavalry serving in the turma of Celta in ala Indiana who lived to 25, only serving for 7 years. His unit later served in Britain (and was based at Cirencester). #TombstoneTuesday
Detail of the tombstone of Comnis (or Comnisca: there is some debate over his name). This is a full-figure cavalry tombstone, with the classic trampled barbarian underneath the horse and servant standing behind the horse's rump. Image: Ctruongngoc (CC BY-SA 3.0) The tombstone of Comnis (or Comnisca: there is some debate over his name). This is a full-figure cavalry tombstone, with the classic trampled barbarian underneath the horse and servant standing behind the horse's rump. Image: Damien Marcellin Tournay (CC BY-SA 2.0) Detail of the tombstone of Comnis (or Comnisca: there is some debate over his name) showing the inscription. Transcription: Comnisca / Vedilli f(ilius) Ambi/an(us) eq(ues) ala / Indiana tur/ma Celtae an(norum) / XXV stip(endiorum) VII h(ic) s(itus) e(st) / heres ex test(amento) fec(it). Image: Damien Marcellin Tournay (CC BY-SA 2.0) Detail of the tombstone of Comnis (or Comnisca: there is some debate over his name) showing the horned saddle, phalerae on the harness, and the apparent use of only a bitless bridle (psalion, hackamore, cavesson). He also seems to have a hexagonal shield. Image: Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA 2.0)
June 30, 2026 at 12:18 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Harking back to the #HadriansCavalry: Turma! event in 2017, here's something that includes the result of jokingly suggesting that the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus includes a Roman salute: getting an entire audience do it! Ah, the power ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUbO... #RomanCavalry #HadriansWall
Hadrian's Cavalry Hippika Gymnasia
YouTube video by Hadrian's Wall
www.youtube.com
June 18, 2026 at 2:42 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
An unprovenanced #RomanCavalry harness phalera and pendant in the Louvre. collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/5335...
phalère
Décor : sur médaillon ; palmette (3) sur pendant ; feuille de chêne (flanqué de, gland) Etat de l'oeuvre : incomplet : il manque un gland du pendant.
collections.louvre.fr
June 16, 2026 at 4:13 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Something unusual for #StDavidsDay? A lead coffin ?lid found at Cefn On(n) farm near Caerphilly in 1952 with a depiction of a mounted, plumed #RomanCavalry rider (unusually from his left, shielded side) clutching what was thought to be a vexillum (unhelpfully, partially obliterated by plough marks).
Cefn On (Glamorgan) lead coffin ?lid depicting a Roman cavalryman riding right to left with a hexagonal shield. Image: Anon
March 1, 2026 at 4:21 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
We don't even know what that mask (sans helmet) was doing there under the collapsed embankment; it could have been in the looted baggage. Cataphracts and clibanariii are irrelevant to the early Principate #RomanCavalry (the time of Kalkriese) and masks definitely hinder riders' field of view ...
January 7, 2026 at 5:14 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
You can always rely on #RomanCavalry equipment for a bit of bling.
trimontiumtrust.bsky.social Trimontium Trust & Museum @trimontiumtrust.bsky.social · Jan 6
For this week's #TrimontiumTuesday a decorated cheekpiece from a #Roman cavalry helmet depicting a hunting scene - two hounds and a stag. The cheekpiece also depicts the outline of the ear of the wearer. Mid - late 1st century, Germany.
On display at the Trimontium Museum, which reopens on 13 Feb
January 6, 2026 at 1:24 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Knowing Me, Knowing You. #CrosbyGarrettHelmet #RomanCavalry #B&C3
Monochrome drawings of the Crosby Garrett Helmet from the sides (top left and right), back and front (bottom left and right). Image: MCB Colou drawings of the Crosby Garrett Helmet from the sides (top left and right), back and front (bottom left and right). Image: MCB
December 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
The stats from Bad Cannstatt will be useful for students of #RomanCavalry, but no related artefacts were found (unlike the mass horse burials at Krefeld-Gellep).
December 21, 2025 at 3:09 AM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Published today, with quite a bit about #RomanCavalry equipment in it (and how it was used). www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/roman-cav...
Roman Cavalry Tactics
A fully illustrated study of the Roman cavalry's evolution, this fascinating book chronicles tactics and composition from the time of the Republic to the fall o…
www.ospreypublishing.com
August 28, 2025 at 9:58 AM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
The keen-eyed will be able to spot the pieces of #RomanCavalry equipment.
archaeohawke.bsky.social Jon Hawke @archaeohawke.bsky.social · Aug 22
Seven Sisters #Hoard
A mixture of #Celtic and #Roman material, such as tankard handles and pieces of harness. Found in 1875 by a local farmer. They were kept as children’s playthings until their historical importance was recognized in the early 20thC.

#FindsFriday #Archaeology
August 22, 2025 at 11:37 AM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Showing off the four-horned saddle rather nicely. #RomanCavalry
trimontiumtrust.bsky.social Trimontium Trust & Museum @trimontiumtrust.bsky.social · Aug 21
Happy Consualia! The Consuales Ludi were held by the #Romans #otd to celebrate harvest & again on 15th December, in connection to grain storage. Horses, mules & donkeys were led through the streets adorned with garlands & flowers.

Bronze horse statuette. #Trimontium Museum, 1st - 2nd century AD.
bronze horse statuette
August 21, 2025 at 7:45 AM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Arguably the best of the #RomanCavalry Rhineland tombstones. His equipment and the horse's harness are extremely accurately depicted. A fine contender for #TombstoneTuesday.
pfranzen.bsky.social Paul Franzen @pfranzen.bsky.social · Jul 28
Tombstone of T. Flavius Bassus, a trooper in the ala Noricum.

Love the detailed horsegear and all the attached bling!

From this point of view he looks at you directly.

Found in and on display in Cologne, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, the provincial capital of Germania Inferior.

Pics: me.
August 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
There is a type of Roman military equipment that is unique to Britain, and it comprises these enamel-inlaid hinged copper-alloy buckle plates, imitating earlier (pre-Flavian) niello-inlaid belt plates. Always a buckle plate, they probably come from #RomanCavalry belts. #FindsFriday
Copper alloy belt plate with hinge for a buckle from the Carlisle Millennium excavations. Divided into three designs, two with one kind of enamel inlay flanking a central one of three sets of three opposing leaves with a different colour of inlay. Image: MCB Copper-alloy inlaid buckle plate, possibly from a cavalry belt, found at Manchester. Divided into three designs, two flanking a central one of three sets of three opposing leaves. Image: Ross Cowan (CC BY-NC 2.0) Enamel-inlaid copper-alloy buckle plates from Staxton (left) and Corbridge (right). Image: MCB
August 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Curiously, not much about #RomanCavalry, but of interest nonetheless, after a quick flick through (if you can flick through a PDF 🤔).
July 16, 2025 at 12:18 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Blink and you'll miss MCB burbling about #RomanCavalry in this (he usually refuses to do TV).
June 16, 2025 at 8:04 AM
trimontiumtrust.bsky.social
A replica #Roman #Chamfron -on display at Trimontium- based on one found at the fort -on display at National Museums Scotland- also pictured & used by the #RomanCavalry. A rare example as it was deposited into one of the wells at the fort intact, allowing to present an accurate reconstruction.🐴
Replica of a Roman chamfron and the real artefact (horse armour mask made of leather and metal) Replica of a Roman chamfron and the real artefact (horse armour mask made of leather and metal)
April 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
The #RomanCavalry helmet and visor from the Wensum at Worthing in Norfolk (GBR) are intriguing. Fischer's classification suggest these are a pseudo-Attic helmet (Guisborough type) and a pseudo-Corinthian visor (Heddernheim type). tinyurl.com/y6pntxh2
Pseudo-Attic Guisborough-type #RomanCavalry brass helmet from the River Wensum at Worthing (Norfolk, UK). Image: Norfolk Museums Service Pseudo-Corinthian Heddernheim-type #RomanCavalry brass helmet visor from the River Wensum at Worthing (Norfolk, UK). Image: Norfolk Museums Service
March 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
Wait, it's #TombstoneTuesday? Here's a small piece of a #RomanCavalry monument from Cirencester showing the right hand of a cavalryman, holding a spear shaft, with the cuff of his long-sleeved tunic turned back on itself.
Fragment of a Roman cavalry tombstone from Cirencester showing a hand holding part of a shafted weapon and the cuff of a long-sleeved tunic folded back on itself. Image: MCB
March 25, 2025 at 2:48 PM
equipmentroman.bsky.social
An incomplete #RomanCavalry #TombstoneTuesday candidate, lacking its inscription, from Strasbourg (FRA). The lozenge-shaped cavesson/psalion/hackamore (or whatever we're calling them this week) is particularly noticeable, as is the typical cavalry sword suspension and part of his oval shield.
Fragmentary relief of an unknown Roman cavalryman wielding a spear in his right hand and a possible oval shield in his left from Strasbourg (FR). A typical cavalry waist belt with sword suspension straps is visible. A calo stands behind the rear end of the horse. Image: Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA 2.0)
March 18, 2025 at 8:23 PM
jrmes.bsky.social
Some modern riders really like them, but there is a measure of dispute over the precise nature of the reconstruction. This article about the 2017 #RomanCavalry reconstruction event at Carlisle includes interviews with the riders: tinyurl.com/2bk5vw8z
Screenshot of text of article on the Roman cavalry Turma! event at Carlisle in 2017.
March 18, 2025 at 8:06 PM