A Force to be reckoned with The Roman Army A Force to be reckoned with

Palybius, History of the World 6.22-24,26,31,33,34,37-39. The youngest soldiers, the velites, are ordered to carry a sword, javelins and a small shield. The shield is of durable construction and of sufficient size to offer protection, being round and measuring three feet in diameter. They are also equipped with a plain helmet, sometimes covering it with a wolf’s skin or something of this sort, both to protect it and at the same time to make it distinct so that those men who are stoutly bearing the brunt of the battle, and those who are not, will be clearly visible to their officers. The wooden shaft of the javelins is about two cubits in length and the width of a finger in breath. The tip is a span long and sharpened to such a fine point that it is necessarily bent by the first impact and the enemy cannot then hurl it back. Otherwise the javelin could be used by both sides.

Polybius , History of the World, (con.) The men next in age, the hastai, are ordered to wear a panoply. The Roman panoply consists of: (1) an oblong shield, which is two and a half feel in width and four feet in length. The thickness at the rim is one palm’s breadth. It is constructed of two sheets of wood fastened with glue. The outer surface is covered first with linen cloth and then with calfskin. A strip of iron is placed on the upper and lower rims to protect it from the downward thrusts of swords and [from damage] when it is propped on the ground. It is also has an iron boss attached to it which deflects direct hits by stones, pikes, and heavy missiles in general.

Roman panoply (con.) (2) A sword, which is carried on the left thigh and called a Spanish sword. It has a blade which is sharp on both edges, and this suitable for upward and downward thrusts, and which is strong and stable.

Roman Panoply (con.) (3) Two javelins There are two types of javelins: thick ones and thin ones… Each is fitted with a barbed iron head which is the same length as the wooden shaft. (4) One brass helment (5) Greaves.

Roman Panoply (con.) In addition to all this, they adorn their helmets with a crown of feathers- three purple or black feathers standing straight up, about a cubit in height- which, since it is placed on the top of the head, above all the other arms makes the soldier appear twice his real size and gives him a fine appearance, guaranteed to strike terror in the enemy.

Polybius, History of the World (con.) Most soldiers also wear bronze breastplates, one span square, which is placed in front of the heart and therefore called the heart protector. This completes their equipment. Soldiers who have property value of more than 10,000 drachmas (denarius) wear, instead of a heart protector, a protective covering of chain mail. The principles and the triarii are armed in the same fashion, except that they triarii carry spears instead of javelins.

Twenty centurions are selected according to merit from each of the classes mentioned above except the youngest, the velites… These officers then choose from the ranks two of the most vigorous and most noble soldiers to be the standard- bearers in each maniple. When both centurions are present in battle, the first centurion commands the right half of the maniple and the second centurion the left, but if one centurion is absent, the remaining centurion commands the whole maniple.

The Romans wish the centurions to be not so much daring and adventurous in spirit but rather steadfast and persevering and with good leadership ability. They do not want men who will rush thoughtlessly into battle or who will initiate the fighting, but rather men who will hold their ground when outnumbered and hard pressed and who'll die at their posts.