10-03-2012, 12:46 AM
I was reading Philip Matyszak's Legionary. In it, he stated that legions raised under Augustus carried the capricorn emblem because Augustus was born under that sign (Romans took zodiac signs very seriously). Legions fighting under the bull emblem were with Julius Caesar in Gaul. This is in relation to the Gaulic bull-god. Or, it could be in relation to the Taurus zodiac sign.
The conclusion that I have drawn, is that whoever raised a legion would give that legion his zodiac sign as, essentially, a mascot. Even though it was a personal symbol of the person who raised the legion, it was held sacred and was adopted into the cult of the standards. The only question that I still have, is how many were there per legion? One? One per cohort? per century? And who carried them?
The conclusion that I have drawn, is that whoever raised a legion would give that legion his zodiac sign as, essentially, a mascot. Even though it was a personal symbol of the person who raised the legion, it was held sacred and was adopted into the cult of the standards. The only question that I still have, is how many were there per legion? One? One per cohort? per century? And who carried them?
Tyler
Undergrad student majoring in Social Studies Education with a specialty in world history.
"conare levissimus videri, hostes enimfortasse instrumentis indigeant"
(Try to look unimportant-the enemy might be low on ammunition).
Undergrad student majoring in Social Studies Education with a specialty in world history.
"conare levissimus videri, hostes enimfortasse instrumentis indigeant"
(Try to look unimportant-the enemy might be low on ammunition).
