Folia archeologica 24.

R. Pető Mária: A pannóniai római katonaság lószerszámozási módja

WAY OF HARNESSING IN THE ROMAN CAVALRY OF PANNÓNIA Pannónia had, in the Roman period, an important role in the life of the Empire as a primarily military province. Great numbers of mounted soldiers were stationed here' we have ample information in the find material as well as on representations, enabling us to give a likely reconstruction of the harness of the Roman cavalry horses in Pannónia. The saddle, made of leather and fastened to the animal with the aid of a breast-strap, breech-band and strap, was called sella equestris or scordiscus militaris. The bits were, in their majority, snaffles, though we have knowledge of gag bits used by the Romans as well. Horseshoes, made of forged iron sheets and fastened to the hoofs with rivets, were of the type of slipper-horseshoes. So-called rivet spurs were used, fastened to the straps of the footwear. Romans did not know stirrups, so essential for riding; our earliest data concerning them is from the 6th century. Parts of horse-furniture as bells, pendants, various decorated trappings or barnacles were unearthed, while leather parts of the bridle, having not survived, are known in the first place from representations on tombstones. Parts of the horse-furniture were made, in all probability, locally; there was, according to the Notitia Dignitatum, a saddler's workshop in Sirmium and armourer's centres at other places. We cannot disclose local or provincial features in the horse-furniture of the Roman cavalry, as peculiar types, adopted from certain tribes of the local population became generally accepted in an army organized centrally. Cavalry equipments of Pannonian origin, as the saddle named scordiscus militaris or the so-called "Pannonian leather cap" were, accordingly, in general use all over the Roman Empire. 5 I oiia Archaeologica 1973