Curiosities of ancient Rome (Army)

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Army is a collection of curiosities about the ancient Roman army and its functioning. This category includes lesser-known facts, interesting information, and unusual details about the legions, weaponry, discipline, tactics, and daily life of soldiers of the Roman Empire.

Roman attempt to conquer kingdom of Sheba

In 25 BCE Egypt’s prefect Gaius Aelius Gallus began a military expedition to subjugate Rome to the Arab kingdom of Sheba. It was located on the territory of modern Yemen, and therefore was an ideal…Więcej

Names of animals in legions

Ancient Romans adopted the names of many animals for their military equipment, including: eagles (aquilae) for the legionary mark; the ram (aries) for the ram; “pig’s head” (caput porci) for wedge formation; raven (corvus) for…Więcej

Method for quick siege

In 60 CE, during the reign of Emperor Nero, the commander of the Roman army – Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo besieged the Armenian capital of Tigranocerta. During the siege, one of the Roman catapults threw the…Więcej

Elephants in Roman army?

Romans rarely used elephants in battle. Several pieces captured on Pyrrhus were present at the triumph of Manius Curius Dentatus in Rome in 275 BCE. However, it is not known what happened to these animals…Więcej

Conducting trenches

Trenching was an important method of siege warfare in antiquity. According to legend, during the siege of the Etruscan capital Veii in 396 BCE, Roman soldiers digging the tunnel heard a bard over them proclaiming…Więcej

Short javelins – plumbatae

In the Roman legion, apart from the usual javelins (pilum), a type of short javelin (plumbatae) was also used. Plumbata was a kind of a dart approximately 60 cm with a lead load (ball), thanks…Więcej

Velites – young javelin throwers

Velites, Roman javelin throwers, composed of young and poor men, could not afford to buy Roman armour (lorica hamata), worn by professional legionaries. Therefore, they put on animal skins to emphasize their strength and prowess.…Więcej

Evolution of patronage in late Roman Empire

In Roman society, the existence of a patron-client relationship was common. Most often, a poor citizen or a liberator submitted to a higher-ranking Roman who, through his position and property, could act in favour of…Więcej

Importance of belts in Roman army

Balteus took the form of a belt decorated with silver plates or embossed with bronze. It was a symbol of a legionary, so taking it off meant “suspension” “in being a soldier. During the year…Więcej

Attempts to reorganize front in Dacia and trick

At the end of the 80s of the 1st century CE, the Romans fought the Dacian kingdom, which, led by Diurpaneus, inflicted two defeats on the Roman legions. The fear of losing Rome’s prestige caused…Więcej

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