he scene, carved in extremely deep relief, seems to show Romans battling with barbarians, likely Goths, distinguished by their wild, long hair and beards. The protagonists' bodies weave and curve together in complicated ways, some sculpted in 360 degrees and separated from the background. There is so much detail to take in that the work repays close and repeated viewings. Most of the Romans are depicted upright or mounted at top right give the depiction verisimilitude even though accuracy may not have been a primary concern. The scene does, however, give us much to ponder. The barbarian cavalryman on the left side, for instance, uses an underarm thrusting position, whereas the Roman on the right, fighting naked barbarians, uses a more ‘traditional’ vertical downward thrust. Three Roman standards are visible, one topped by what appears to be a goose, and a cavalry standard in the centre. We see round, oval and other shapes of shield. Most men are armed with, and are using, their swords although spears are also in evidence, used especially by the cavalry figures. There are Romans shown in muscled cuirasses, scale, mail and even one fighting in only a tunic. There are various types of helmet, though none of the barbarians wear one. Thus, there seem to be accurate details mixed in with artistic license. Interestingly, the swords, as far as they survive, seem to be shorter , rather than longer which had become near ubiquitous for infantrymen in the late second century. The barbarians also use shorter swords which looks to be an error (artistic choice or stolen blades?). Of course, the fact that swords are drawn, combined with the complexity of the scene, gives a sense of chaotic and desperate hand-to-hand battle, one where Roman victory was far from guaranteed! One of my favourite moments is the horse being wrestled to the ground in the lower left centre.
