The food of the legionnaires

In standard conditions, a legionnaire was able to receive a good amount of quality food; this was necessary to maintain the soldiers in good health, to be ready to afford the war fatigues.

Here it is the detail of the kind of food that they ate:

1) 1350 g (3 lb) of wheat 

2) 900 g (2 lb) of meat

3) 1 liter (34 oz) of "posca" (water and vinegar)

4) 70 ml (2 oz) of oil

5) 60 ml (2 oz) of cheese 

6) fruits and vegetables (not able to quantify)

The total amount of Kcal provided by this food was 5400, that was enough to afford the daily consumption of 5250 Kcal, used for complete the legionnaires daily duties. 

Bibliography: Infografica della Roma antica di Guillerat e Scheid

Il cibo dei legionari

In condizioni ottimali i legionari ricevevano una buona quantità di cibo di qualità; questo per permettere loro di essere sempre in ottima forma fisica per affrontare al meglio le fatiche della guerra.

Ecco più nello specifico l'elenco, secondo quanto riportato dagli storici, del cibo giornaliero di cui potevano godere:

1) 1350 g di grano

2) 900 g di carne

3) 1 litro di posca (acqua e aceto)

4) 70 ml di olio di oliva 

5) 60 ml di formaggio

6) frutta e verdura (non quantificata)

Tutto questo cibo forniva nel complesso 5400 Kcal circa, a fronte di un consumo giornaliero di circa 5250 Kcal per svolgere i compiti ordinari giornalieri di un legionario (escluso il combattimento con il nemico, quindi)

FONTE: Infografica della Roma antica di Guillerat e Scheid

La piastrina di un Primo Pilo della legione XIIII Gemina

 Nel museo nazionale di Portogruaro (Venezia) è custodito un titolus, ovvero una piastrina in piombo riportante i dati identificativi di un soldato. In questo caso recita:"Muciani primi pilaris legionis XIIII Gemina" che tradotto: "Muciano, Primo Pilo della Legione XIIII Gemina"

Il Primo Pilo era quel soldato che ricopriva la carica di "Capo Centurione" di una legione. Gli storici dibattono ancora se debba essere considerato o meno come un ufficiale (inteso in senso moderno) della legione.

Military propaganda in Caesar's coins

Coins were very often used as propaganda instruments in ancient Roman times.

Here there are the main coins that Caesar created with the military propaganda proposal.

This coin represents the military equipment of the Gauls, and the word "Caesar" under it. On the other side there is the head of Venus. With this coin Caesar celebrates the first wins against the Gauls.

This coin shows on the left the main instruments of the Pontefix (an high priestly office) such as the axe. On the other side of the coin there are symbols of the fortune tellers and laurel crown. The crown was put there to celebrate the win against the king of Pontus (Turkey).

This coin represents on one side the head of the chief of the Gauls Vercingetorix; on the other side there is a gallic warrior on a chariot. This coin were created to celebrate the win of the war against the Gauls.

This coin represents on one side an elephant that steps on a snake. On the other side there are the symbols of the Pontefix Maximus (the highest priestley office). With this coin Caesar asserts his supremacy over his enemies at the beginning of the civil war.

Le monete a tema militare di Cesare

 Cesare fece ampio uso dello strumento della propaganda, anche utilizzando lo strumento delle monete, soprattutto, ma non solo in ambito militare. Vediamo le 3 principali:

Moneta con Venere al dritto e spoglie di guerrieri galli al rovescio. Moneta coniata durante le guerre galliche.

Moneta rappresentante al dritto i simboli del pontificato e al rovescio simboli della carica di Augure e corona dall'alloro per indicare la vittoria contro il Re del Ponto. Oltre a celebrare la vittoria militare, celebrava anche la sua elezione alla carica di Pontefice e di Augure.

Moneta che rappresenta la lotta politica durante la guerra civile con Pompeo e i suoi alleati. Al dritto un elefante schiaccia un serpente; al rovescio simboli pontificali e sacerdotali.

Moneta rappresentante al dritto Vercingetorige e il trionfo di Cesare al rovescio. Moneta coniata per celebrare il trionfo di Cesare in seguito alla conquista della Gallia 

The structure of the Roman army in the royal age

The first Roman army was composed by hoplites soldiers, who fought using the phalanx formation. The Romans learned to fight in this formation by the Etruscans around the 500 b.C..
The enlistment was made by an economical census of the citizens. In fact the soldiers were not paid. The richest people were enlisted as hoplites, the other ones were probably enlisted as light infantry.
The Roman phalanx was made by 40 centuriae (400 men) plus an unknown number of light infantry soldiers.
During the V century B.C. this army became made of 60 centuriae formed by citizens divided into 3 different economical classes. During the war against the city of Veio, it was introduced the first form of payment for the soldiers.
Let's talk about the cavalry; the first evidence of the cavalry corp is from the 400 b.C.. The cavalry was made by volunteers who joined the army with their own horses. Probably these cavaliers were part of the political elite class.


Bibliography: the Roman army by Chris McNab

The cataphractarii, a particular type of cavaliers

The cataphractarii were soldiers of the cavalry protected by a metal or reinforced leather armour. Ancient romans discovered this kind of soldiers around the first century a.D., when they kept in contact with Sarmati Rossolani people, at the Danubian border.
This type of soldiers, in addition to the armor, were equipped with a very heavy spear, 3 meters and half long and handled with both hands. They did not use any shield, and their charges were quite slow, but unstoppable. The effect on the enemy was more psychological than physical.
It was Emperor Adrian who formed the first official unity of cataphractarii in the Roman army.

Bibliography: The Roman army by Chris McNab