Telling a story on the tabletop

Since I released the first wave of my Jewish Revolt against Rome range of 28mm miniatures, I have been asked a few times about what makes them unique. In particular, did Jewish rebels during the 1^st and 2^nd Centuries look appreciably different from other rebels from the same period of time? After all, surely a Judaean peasant would look pretty similar to a Greek one and so on? Are the differences even worth reflecting on the tabletop?

In my opinion, yes, these differences are absolutely worth reflecting on the tabletop, and this is what makes Northwing Miniatures unique. With this in mind I have deliberately avoided going down the route of “generic” rebel miniatures for the ancient world. There are plenty of miniature ranges that already do an excellent job of producing such figures. Instead, what I wanted to do with Northwing Miniatures was to design and produce miniatures that tell a very specific story, whose presence on the tabletop (hopefully) immediately transports you to Ancient Judaea.

To achieve this, every figure in the Northwing Miniatures range is based on careful research and a commitment to historical reality. However, given the lack of contemporary descriptions or images of the Jewish rebels I have drawn on archaeological finds, period texts, contemporary iconography from neighbouring regions, and scholarly reconstructions to ensure that the miniatures reflect as accurately as possible the dress, equipment, and cultural identifiers of the Jewish rebels during the First and Second Jewish Revolts (66–73 AD and 132–135 AD respectively).

For example, some of the miniatures feature distinctive items such as wrapped cloth turbans or headbands — a style often associated with people of this region during this time period. Numerous figures wear clothing with Tzitzit (the distinctive tassels worn by more religiously conscientious Jews), while others carry weapons closely associated with the revolt such as the Sica. Shields are another point of differentiation as rather than using just one style I have provided a range to reflect the range of influences on the equipment options likely available to the rebels of this period. Even the sandals are designed from a pair found during an archaeological excavation of the fortress of Masada, believed to belong to a young adult zealot.

I have also tried to capture the social and religious dimensions of these fighters. Some of the models represent not just armed peasants but fanatical zealots, men for whom this was not just a political rebellion but a sacred struggle. Others are clearly more reluctant villagers who have got sucked into the conflict. Nor are women overlooked for the First and Second Jewish Revolts against Rome were both wars into which an entire people became involved, sparing no one. These differences matter as they help give your wargames a layer of narrative and historical depth*.

Northwing Miniatures is about giving wargamers the tools to explore a particular story. The Jewish Revolts were of major historical importance, not just to the Jewish people but also to the wider Ancient World. They should not be depicted as a faceless uprising, but a specific revolt, in a specific place, by a specific people. By reflecting that cultural and historical context in the design of these miniatures, I believe these figures help tell a fascinating story.

*Once again, I am indebted to Alan Marsh for his superb sculpting work in producing these miniatures. He has done more than just work from a design, he truly brought them to life.