Number of legions at Zama

[Mark Hygate]

Polybius book 6.20.9 definitely states 4200 actual infantry for a standard legion, while book 6.21.9 states 600 Triari, 1200 Hastati, 1200 Princeps, and the rest (1200) are velites.  6.21.9 also states that larger legions keep 600 Triari, but the other three now enlarged elements are kept proportionally equal.

Bk6.20 says 4200 'men', not infantry, certainly in the translation in my hand just now - which fits.

Bk6.21 details the numbers as you do - but adds that they add to 4000! - so implies that the velites are indeed 1000.

Bk6.24 details the 180 men selected from the 4200, but, of course, this would more obviously be done before the rest were so divided as we and Polybius both do.

I should add that there should be 300 Roman Cavalry per Roman Legion and not 200; and seemingly 900 per Allied Legion (or a total of 600 per legion).

If the '16000' at Zama are supposed to be a full-strength Polybian standard Consular Army then it would be represented as either 16000 or 16800 and with a total of 2400 Cavalry - assuming the cavalry are at full strength; something the Romans are not always seemingly able to achieve during the Punic Wars, but which is no surprise.