The Standard-Bearers
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/0/1/25018325/5106694.jpg?401)
-Being a standard-bearer in the Roman army was a highly honored position! They would help keep units together, marching at the front of the troops, and were a symbol of pride to the unit. The aquila of the legion would be defended to the death!
-Typically the standard-bearers would wear an animal skin over their helmet and armor- a lion for the aquilifer of the legion, and bears and wolves for the signifer and vexillarius. They would wear armor of chain-mail and carry a small, round shield.
-Standard-bearers had their own tents next to the principia of the commanding officers- in the camps, the standards would be guarded all night.
-The cornicen marched in front with the standard-bearers- he held a huge curved trumpet called a cornu and sounded signals to direct the army.
-Typically the standard-bearers would wear an animal skin over their helmet and armor- a lion for the aquilifer of the legion, and bears and wolves for the signifer and vexillarius. They would wear armor of chain-mail and carry a small, round shield.
-Standard-bearers had their own tents next to the principia of the commanding officers- in the camps, the standards would be guarded all night.
-The cornicen marched in front with the standard-bearers- he held a huge curved trumpet called a cornu and sounded signals to direct the army.
|
Movie connection!
-In the beginning of this clip from the 1953 movie Julius Caesar you can see what a Roman military parade might have looked like- complete with standard-bearers and trumpet players. I quite enjoyed this artistic portrayal. |