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Ancient Times, Roman. - 017 - Costumes of All Nations (1882). The legions of the Roman Republic and Empire had a fairly standardised dress and armour, particularly from approximately the early to mid 1st century onward, when Lorica Segmentata (segmented armour) was introduced. [ 1 ]
The size ranged from as small as 6 mm (0.25 in) wide by 1.2 cm tall up to about 5 cm (2 in) wide by 8 cm (3 in) tall, with the most common sizes being roughly 1.25 by 2.5 cm (0.5 by 1 in). Many had rounded bottoms, while others were pointed or had flat bottoms with the corners clipped off at an angle.
According to Polybius, the most complete and likely the most accurate account, the legion consisted of 10 maniples of 120 hastati, 10 maniples of 120 principes, and 10 half strength maniples of triarii containing 60 men each. [6]: 34–35 With 1,200 velites and 300 cavalrymen a legion numbered 4,500 men. However, in times of great need the ...
Augustan period statue of a Gaulish soldier wearing a Roman lorica hamata. Modern historians believe that mail armor was invented by the Celts. [3] [4] With the idea for this form of mail possibly coming to Rome during conflicts with the Celts in the 3rd century BC, [5] [2] lorica hamata was used by both legionary and auxilia troops. [2]
A manica (Latin: manica, "sleeve"; [1] Greek: χεῖρες, kheires, "sleeves") was a type of iron or copper-alloy laminated arm guard with curved, overlapping metal segments or plates fastened to leather straps worn by ancient and late antique heavy cavalry, infantry, and gladiators.
During the Dacian Wars Trajan had to re-equip his soldiers wearing lorica segmentata with other forms of armor such as the lorica hamata and lorica squamata. [5] It is not known precisely when the Romans adopted the type of armor, [4] but it remained in use for about eight centuries, [4] most prominently in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. [1]
However, this name was not given to the armor by the Romans. Instead, it was given by scholars in the 16th century. [1] Despite the lack of knowledge on the Roman name for the armor, scholars can make educated guesses on the Roman name. It is obvious the name had the word lorica in it. [1] However, the following part of the name is unknown. [1]
Roman military engineering was of a scale and frequency far beyond that of its contemporaries. Indeed, military engineering was in many ways endemic in Roman military culture, as demonstrated by each Roman legionary having as part of his equipment a shovel, alongside his gladius (sword) and pila ( javelins ).