1. The Legionary Fortress
By: Arcanus Iezzi

2. Allow US to speak of the legion
The Legion was a miniature army
legions resided in camps known as a “Legionary fortress” The fortress can be compared to a fortified town

3. The Legionary Fortress
The fortress covered roughly fifty (50) to sixty (60) acres (this is equal to about a third of pompeii)
EVERY fortress was based on a standard pattern
Fortresses would first be built using wood to allow for speed but later rebuilt using stone

4. The Standard Pattern of a Fortress
In the middle of the camp was the chief buildings: Principia - Headquarters large and impressive building at the very center Praetorium - living-quarters of the commanding officers Horrea - Granaries
roads in the camp were laid out using an orderly grid pattern

5. The Grid System There were three main roads within the camp
-- Via Praetoria Ran from the main gate to the front entrance of the Principia
-- Via Principalis Extended across the width of the camp creating a “t- junction” the the Via Praetoria just in front of the Principia
-- Via Quintana passed behind the principia the width of the fortress

6. Cambridge Latin Book
PAGE 135

7. The defences of the fortress
The fortress was the headquarters for a set legion(s)
The fortress itself had to be defensive so there were as follows:
A ditch surrounding the camp
Vallum - a rampart, or an earth wall or mound
Battlements with towers at the corners and at intervals along the sides
Each side had its own fortified gateway with one main gate

8. The Life within the Walls
-- Basilica - On the far side of the courtyard; large, great hall - place commander worked with his officers - Interviewed important local people - Administered military justice
-- Sacellum - most sacred place in the fortress - Housed the standard of the legion Aquila

9. Quid est Aquila? The Aquila:
Image of an eagle perched with outspread wings on top of a pole
Clutched arrows in its talons that represent the thunderbolts of jupiter
Made of Gold
Represented the spirit of the legion
Aroused feeling of loyalty and almost a religious aspect
Carried by Aquilifer who was always in first cohort

10. The Sacellum: A deeper look
-- On either sides of the sacellum were rooms payrolls and all paperwork needed to run a large organization were kept
-- Underground was the legion’s strong room Pay and savings were safely kept here

11. The life within the walls (CONT’D)
Praetorium - side of or just behind the principia
Luxurious house in Italian style of domus urbana
provided legatus & family with comforts they thought necessary for a civilized life
central heating, a garden, & a private suite of baths
Valetudinarium - hospital
contained many small wards
designed to ensure peace & quiet for the sick & injured
Large reception hall to accommodate an influx of casualties from the battlefield (terra bellis)
A small operating theater equipped with running water

12. The Life inside the Walls (CONT’D x2)
Horrea
designed to keep grain dry and cool for long periods
A long, narrow building
To carry rainwater away from the walls the roof had wide overhanging eaves
supported on small piers or low walls to allow air to circulate underneath to prevent damp rising from the ground
Usually had several granaries within the fortress placed next to each other
Held enough grain to last at least a year & maybe two

13. Ruins of a Horrea

14. The Life within the Walls (CONT’D x3)
barracks
held roughly 5,000 to 6,000 men & occupied the largest area
Long, narrow, rectangular buildings divided into pairs of rooms
Each pair provided accommodations for an eight-man section
CONTUBERNIUM
each had its own hearth to cook on in the front living-room
Bath House
important for both hygienic and social reasons
consisted of everything the civilian baths had:
Tepidarium
Caldarium
Frigidarium

15. Roman Barracks

16. Outside the Fortress Amphitheater citizens
same shape and layout as the civilian
able to seat the entire legion
used for:
Ceremonial parades
Weapon training
Displays of tactics
Occasional Gladiatorial shows
citizens
merchants set up shops for food and a place to meet girls
Families followed their “husbands’” legion camps
due to this, towns began to flourish and grow from following the legions