Salve,
I hope I have this in the correct section.
Can you tell me about Roman Standards? Who was allowed them? How were they chosen (as in what they would look like)? How were they made?
Tasia
Usually they are used as the identifier of a legion, and then you have the century standards as well.
The eagle was the soul of the legion, The aquilia, and then the centuries had a type of banner called a vexelleum.
I have gotten the impression from the many posts on here that there was no Cohortal standard.
I am speaking in layman terms of course, there are people who spend all their time studying these things who will tell you more, with more accurate terminology!
It is also impotant to know whicht period you're referring to, as you can see the Draco becomes a very important standart in the late roman army.
For more on the Draco, visit the page of fellow board member Robert Vermaat
[url:2lw25l8v]http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/draco.htm[/url]
Another nice overview is given on the legio XXIV website
[url:2lw25l8v]http://www.legionxxiv.org/signum/[/url]
The Second link is very interesting.
About vexillum, some historian think that the vexillum was a detachment standard when only some parts of a whole legion were sent in patrol or for "small" operations.
About late romans, I've heard about the labarum which would be the personnal banner of the emperor (or marking his presence on the battlefield ?)
I've also heard about the flamina which would be a small banner tied to a hasta but we don't have certitude about its particular use.
Well, this topic is very interesting cos' we have to do a banner and as we don't specially know anything about late banners except Draco for a whole unit (I can't speak of a legion for a very late unit).
Bye !
Right, the Vexillum was likely associated with a Vexillation- a detachment sent to an area other than where the main body of a larger unit was. A general example would be the main Legio being stationed in Germania, and a Vexillation being sent to Britannia.
The Centuria standard is thought to be the Signum- a pole often with a hand on top (or sometimes a spearpoint), with several discs (phalarae), and various other symbolic objects, the meanings of which aren't really known- things like crescents, little castles, wreaths, etc.
There were also several other types- the Imagio, thought to be a bust of the Emperor, sometimes one sees statuettes of the animal symbols of the Legio, Byron's already mentioned the Aquila, one that's known quite well. There was some form of Cohort standard- there's a plaque in the RGZM in Germany marked 'COH V', and the line atop the 'V' does suggest it's a number not the letter, so its usual identification as for the VRBAN cohort of Rome doesn't seem correct to me.
You should try a search for 'Standard' and the types 'Signum' 'Aquila', etc. and you'll find past thread where they're discussed.
Salve!
Thank you for all the replies. So the standards were based on the units - not so much for personal use - unless you were the Emperor or a Centurion? I'm confused on banners - did just the smaller units?
I'm curious in the way of using them in reenactment purposes. It sounds like you would have to pick a Legion to associate yourself with and recreate their standard?
Don't laugh - I'm in the SCA, not an actual Roman group, so I'm doing my best to be authentic.
My interest is 145 AD.
Tasia
Would never mock such a beautiful lady such as your self! :wink:
LOL! Well thank you! I wish there were very active Legios close by although, being female, I don't believe they are allowed to participate as soldiers. So this is a great alternative for me (the SCA). I can get others interested. There is more and more interest within the SCA of all things Roman every year.
Tasia
There is a group starting up your neck of the wood, also a XIIIIth Legion.
But as you say, it was an all male fighting machine. But for info for SCA there are quite a few sites and people on here who can help.
Matt Amt I think was SCA, and also Hibs bunch in California were SCA from what I see.
Plenty of advice for authenticity purposes on this forum for sure.
There were female gladiators! (And familia gladiatoria had also banners)
I've been reading up on them! Seems they are finding more and more about them from various dig sites.
Is there a specific website that shows all the different standards? I'm not having much luck finding anything it seems.
I will do a search through the forum on previous discussions.
There was of course the gladiators, as Jurjen says! Also many of the gaul tribes were known to have women fighters too!
Quote:being female, I don't believe they are allowed to participate as soldiers
I have seen women protray male legionaires and get away with it. The practice is usually frowned upon, but if one cannot tell the difference...
Quote:There is more and more interest within the SCA of all things Roman every year.
I see this as well. I have a small, but growing number of SCA folk here in Fort Wayne, IN pursuing roman. Years ago I had been told that roman was beyond the temporal interest of the SCA, but that appears to have changed.
Quote:There was of course the gladiators, as Jurjen says! Also many of the gaul tribes were known to have women fighters too!
Sarmatians had female fighters too. And sarmatians served as auxiliaries in the Roman army, so...
To my knowledge a Roman labarum was a vexillum with the Chi Ro monogram on it.
Here's some info (don't ask me if it's trustworthy):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labarum
Vale,
Quote:There is a group starting up your neck of the wood, also a XIIIIth Legion.
But as you say, it was an all male fighting machine. But for info for SCA there are quite a few sites and people on here who can help.
Matt Amt I think was SCA, and also Hibs bunch in California were SCA from what I see.
Plenty of advice for authenticity purposes on this forum for sure.
One of the problems with the SCA is it's narrowmindedness when it comes to heraldry. The SCA's heraldic rules are based on those of Britain, with any exceptions. While you are more than welcome to display items without it being "accepted" heraldry (as long as they aren't offensive), you'd be hard-pressed to get a true roman design approved as your personal banner. Though, I personally have registered one
loosely based on 'unit' shields from the Notitia Dignitatum, and have also seen the ninth legion display a similar one. However, these designs are later Empire period.
Quote:I'm curious in the way of using them in reenactment purposes. It sounds like you would have to pick a Legion to associate yourself with and recreate their standard?
If you want to be an authentic reenactor, yes.
It's encouraging to see your interest in here. SCA has a bad reputation for not being authentic enough, but that's the difference between REENACTMENT (what was) and RECREATION (what could have been).