Legionary Insignia

[Matthew Amt]

What I really want to ascertain is whether it would be fair to assume that these insignia would have been used 1st/2nd cent. on shields.

I don't think there is much evidence for these emblems being used on shields at that time, apart from the capricorns on Legio II shields (Arch of Orange, I believe). Most seem to variations of the eagle wings and lightning bolts, and not just on Trajan's Column. There are also no depictions of vexilla with emblems on them--they are either shown blank (meaning they were probably painted) or they just have lettering. The one surviving vexillum, of course, just has Victory on a globe with NO lettering, just to confuse the issue!

Emblems like the boar, bull, and zodiac designs show up on stone carvings, roof tiles, shield covers, and a few other things. They may also have been used on signa, or for finials on vexilla, etc., but I don't know if there is solid evidence for that. We just don't see them on most shields! History's mysteries.

Matthew