04-26-2011, 12:19 PM
What exactly was a "tessera militaris" and how was it used?
Smith's old Dictionary states:
This seems odd to me, and the suggested use appears cumbersome. Does anyone know how it worked, and how common it was?
Smith's old Dictionary states:
Quote:Tessera... From the application of this term to tokens of various kinds, it was transferred to the word used as a token among soldiers. This was the tessera militaris, the συνθημα of the Greeks. Before joining battle it was given out and passed through the ranks as a method by which the soldiers might be able to distinguish friends from foes.
This seems odd to me, and the suggested use appears cumbersome. Does anyone know how it worked, and how common it was?
David J. Cord
www.davidcord.com
www.davidcord.com
