1. The Legionary Fortress
Stage 27: in castris
The Legionary Fortress

2. The Legionary Fortress
The fortress where a legion lived when not on campaign was like a fortified town which covered acres (about one third of Pompeii)
There was a standard pattern for the layout
Chief buildings were the principia, praetorium, valetudinarium, and the horrea
Roads were laid out in a grid pattern although there were three main streets: 1) via praetoria-from the main gate to the front entrance of the principia; 2) via pricipalis-across the whole width of the fortress; and 3) via quintana-behind the principia and across the width of the fortress
The fortress was surrounded by a ditch, vallum, which was an earth wall or mound, and battlements, with towers at the corners and at intervals along the sides. Each side had a fortified gateway.

3. Principia
The principia was a large and impressive building at the heart of the fortress
Visitors would enter a flagstone courtyard surrounded on three sides by a colonnade and storerooms, on the far side was a large basilica where the commander worked with his cofficers, interviewed important local people, and administered military justice

4. Major Buildings The principia building. The basilica at Deva was about
240 feet long; its central nave,
bounded by tall columns supporting
a vaulted roof, was 40 feet wide and
flanked by two aisles each 20 feet.

5. Plan of a legionary fortress

6. Sacellum
In the center of the far long wall of the basilica and directly facing the main gate was the most sacred place in the fortress, the sacellum, or chapel.
The standard of the legion was housed here, the aquila. It was made of gold and in its talons clutched a bundle of golden darts that represented the thunderbolts of Jupiter. The aquila represented the spirit of the legion and aroused feeling of intense loyalty and an almost religious respect.
To lose it in battle was the worst possible disgrace and misfortune; this rarely happened.
The aquilifer was the soldier who looked after the aquila and carried it in battle. He was a soldier of the first cohort.

7. Seal of the United States
Aquilae
Ancient Roman Aquila
Seal of the United States

8. Praetorium
On either side of the sacellum were the rooms for payroll and paperwork, close by was the safe
The praetorium was behind the principia and was a luxurious house in the style of an Italian domus urbana which provided the legatus and family comforts they required for a civilized life: central heating, garden, and a private suite of baths

9. Valetudinarium
The hospital contained many sick wards which were designed to ensure peace and quiet for the sick and injured
There was also a large reception hall to accommodate an influx of casualties from battle and a small operating theater equipped with running water

10. Horrea Designed to keep grain dry and cool for long periods
In the first century AD they were made out of wood, but from the second century on they were made of stone
Long, narrow building
Roof had overhanging eaves to carry the rain water away
Floor was supported by small piers or low walls which allowed air to circulate freely underneath which prevented damp from rising
Could store grain for one or two years

11. Barracks
Housing men
Long, narrow, rectangular buildings were divided into pairs of rooms, each pair providing accommodation for an eight man section (contubernium)
Each section cooked for itself on a hearth in the front living room
Each block housed a century
At the end of the block was the larger suite of rooms for the centurion

12. Bath House Important for hygenic and social reasons
Consisted of a tepidarium, caldarium, and frigidarium
Sometimes it was outside the fortress by a stream, or inside the fortress

13. Amphitheater Always outside the fortress
Same shape and layout as the civilian amphitheater and could seat the whole legion
Used for ceremonial parades, weapon training, and displays of tactics, as well as for occasional gladiatorial shows

14. Local Citizens Civilians tended to gather around military bases
Traders who set up bars to sell food and drink came first
This was a place for soldiers to also meet local girls
Soldiers were not legally allowed to marry, but the army allowed unofficial unions
The father lived in the barracks, while the family lived just outside, and his sons enlisted at 18 or 19
Many of these settlements (vici) developed into towns and even became self governing (Eboracum (York))
Military bases played an important role in the development of civilian town life

15. Eboracum (York)

16. DEFINITIONS Principia-headquarters
Praetorium-the living-quarters of the commanding officer
Valetudinarium-the hospital
Horrea-granaries
Via praetoria-street which ran from the main gate to the front entrance of the principia
Via principalis-street which extended across the whole width of the fortress making a T-junction with the via praetoria just in front of the principia
Via quintana-street which passed behind the principia and also extended across the width of the fortress

17. DEFINITIONS
Vallum-ditch surrounding the fortress which was an earth wall or mound, and battlements, with towers at the corners and at intervals along the sides
Basilica-great hall, where the commander worked with his officers
Sacellum-chapel
Aquila-image of an eagle perched with outspread wings on the top of a pole
Aquilifer-eagle-bearer
Domus urbana-luxurious house with comforts expected for a civilized life
Contubernium-long, narrow, rectangular buildings providing accomodation for an eight man section
Vici-settlements outside of military bases