11-10-2010, 03:53 PM
According to what meager evidence there is, the number of discs on the signum does NOT correspond to the number of the century in a cohort. On Trajan's Column, for instance, you can see 2 signa side-by-side, and they both have 5 discs--in a typical camp, centuries from different cohorts would not be camped next to each other. Plus, the maximum number of discs known in artwork is 7, and the minimum is 2, so that doesn't seem to match up with either century or cohort number. Finally, centuries were identified by the name of their centurion, or by his rank (hastatus prior, etc.), not by a number.
As I recall, there is also no indication that a cohort had a standard of its own. The vexillum was apparently used for any detached portion of a legion, whether it was one century or 6 cohorts. (Darned if I can give you a citation for that, so apply grain of salt, sorry!)
My usual guess is that the phalerae were battle honors of some sort, but it's only a guess. Probably the Romans knew what they meant, but I'm not sure we can even be certain of that!
Valete,
Matthew
As I recall, there is also no indication that a cohort had a standard of its own. The vexillum was apparently used for any detached portion of a legion, whether it was one century or 6 cohorts. (Darned if I can give you a citation for that, so apply grain of salt, sorry!)
My usual guess is that the phalerae were battle honors of some sort, but it's only a guess. Probably the Romans knew what they meant, but I'm not sure we can even be certain of that!
Valete,
Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
