Another member of the same family, L. Sertorius Firmius, provides another richly equipped gravestone. His scale armour is shown with sleeve extensions and a skirt of pteruges without phalerae . These scallops are decorated with Medusa heads and other ornaments. The difference between functional and ceremonial armour cannot be clearly defined. The examples of lorica squamata used in this essay mostly relate to funerary goods of the officer class, which because of their detail and therefore cost should not be used to indicte what the common soldier worn.
Ceremonial armour is more likely to appear on sculpture.
Due to the lack of precise knowledge as to the context in which it was worn this ceremonial armour may have also been functional, commanders perhaps requiring less need of protection and more need for mobility and the ability to provide inspiration for their troops. What is clearly evident is that despite this armour's apparent inferior properties as armour, its use was continued perhaps because of other functional needs of the wearer.