"Roman feather colors" Topic

I swear, this is one of the last questions I ask before I start posting pictures!

I am almost done with the basecoats of my first group of Polybian era Roman legionnaires and when researching the color of helmet feathers, I went straight to the source.

From Polybius' Histories (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/44125/44125-h/44125-h.htm)

"Besides these each man is decorated with a plume of feathers, with three purple or black feathers standing upright, about a cubit long. The effect of these being placed on the helmet, combined with the rest of the armour, is to give the man the appearance of being twice his real height, and to give him a noble aspect calculated to strike terror into the enemy."

In some reproductions, like Osprey, I see the plumage consisting of a central black feather with two purple side feathers. I thought it was a bit unusual to use an expensive dye like purple for rank and file, but I imagine cheaper alternative shades of purple could be used with madder and woad. In Osprey's case, the side feathers take on a bluish indigo color, so I was thinking maybe using Vallejo violet or Oxford Blue.

HOWEVER, when reading my copy of Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars, it says that the feather colors were black and red, not black and purple.

Which is it?

I think the issue is with the Latin that Polybius uses (would need to check the original Latin) – it could indicate either a red or purple colour. Go with what you think looks good.

I would follow Polybius over Osprey or Armies of the Macedonian & Punic Wars. And Polybius wrote in Greek, not Latin.

The word is 'phoinikois' which can be purple but also crimson or even red (esp. darker shades).

FWIW, Polybios uses the word elsewhere for the colour of a lotus fruit – a quick search suggests these are a definite red (like a strawberry or a red pepper) rather than a purplish shade.

@ Swampster: Yep, I just found it here too: φοινίκεος
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Personally I think red/crimson would make more sense, given its association with Mars and warriors.

Most likely red.

I'm no expert, but would go with red. Purple was a _very_ expensive dye.

My own take is that the feathers were black, but with a purplish sheen if looked at at the right angle. (Lots of birds have similar black/purple/green feathers).

Hence the feathers are both black and purple simultaneously

In AMPW I consistently (I hope – I intended to be consistent, anyway!) translated phoinix, phoinikis etc as crimson, and reserved purple for words like porphyreos. The phoinix that Polybios uses for Roman feathers is the same word that other authors use for Spartan tunics, for instance.

Apologies for writing Latin when it is obviously Greek. Bit of a moment then!

I actually like Dagwood's hypothesis. I painted mine black.

I did my Hastati and Princeps with black feathers and Triarii with purple. Makes it easier to pick the grizzled veterans out.

Black and red for me based on exactly what AMPW says cuz that's the word :) (However I like the concept of using purple for the triarii as a visual reference).
There was a paper somewhere a while ago about what kind of birds in Italy have 14" long feathers.
However Ravens are common and 14" is a common long feather.
Of course Ravens come in black so that's easy.
Bleaching and dying dark red/crimson is easy enough with common dyes and the Italians of course have a long tradition of feathered helmets. I bet the red and white feathers were from other common birds probably Geese or other water fowl.

US Fish and Wildlife

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Just add vinegar:

YouTube link

What about other Italians – Samnites etc, who also decorated their helmets with feathers? The frescos I've seen seem to only show black and white but I'd imagine they used other colours as well. And then there are Etruscans and other Italian peoples too.

Cheers,
John

I went for black for the Roman legions, red for their elites / veteran (red tunics for both) and white for allied legions, red for their elites (buff tunics) all with deep red shields. Non Legion Italian allies white crests, white shields and white tunics for elites, buff for standard. Velites buff tunics with white for the few elites, all white shields.