10-13-2007, 12:17 AM
I think you'll find references to them all through the sources - Polybius refers to the tents and baggage being carried on "pack- animals" as opposed to carts/wagons in his survey/description of the Roman Army
- presumably so the Army wasn't tied to roads. This can be taken as a reference to Mules and perhaps donkeys (who are a bit small to be ideal). A couple of specific references spring to mind in connection with the nick-name 'Marius's Mules' for legionaries.
Plutarch 'Life of Marius' XIII
"Setting out on the expedition, he laboured to perfect his army as it went along, practising the men in all kinds of running and in long marches, and compelling them to carry their own baggage and to prepare their own food. Hence, in after times, men who were fond of toil and did whatever was enjoined upon them contentedly and without a murmur, were called Marian mules. Some, however, think that this name had a different origin. Namely, when Scipio was besieging Numantia, he wished to inspect not only the arms and the horses, but also the mules and the waggons, that every man might have them in readiness and good order. Marius, accordingly, brought out for inspection both a horse that had been most excellently taken care of by him, and a mule that for health, docility, and strength far surpassed all the rest. The commanding officer was naturally well pleased with the beasts of Marius and often spoke about them, so that in time those who wanted to bestow facetious praise on a persevering, patient, laborious man would call him a Marian mule."
(thanks to Bill Thayer saving my typing fingers)
...and also Frontinus 'Strategemata' IV.1.7
For the purpose of limiting the number of pack animals, by which the march of the army was especially hampered, Gaius Marius had his soldiers fasten their utensils and food up in bundles and hang these on forked poles, to make the burden easy and to facilitate rest; whence the expression "Marius's mules."
(courtesy Bill Thayer and Lacus Cutius again !)
...and there are physical remains too such as the skeleton found on the Kalkriese site.
It seems wherever Legionaries went, Mules went too !! 8)
- presumably so the Army wasn't tied to roads. This can be taken as a reference to Mules and perhaps donkeys (who are a bit small to be ideal). A couple of specific references spring to mind in connection with the nick-name 'Marius's Mules' for legionaries.
Plutarch 'Life of Marius' XIII
"Setting out on the expedition, he laboured to perfect his army as it went along, practising the men in all kinds of running and in long marches, and compelling them to carry their own baggage and to prepare their own food. Hence, in after times, men who were fond of toil and did whatever was enjoined upon them contentedly and without a murmur, were called Marian mules. Some, however, think that this name had a different origin. Namely, when Scipio was besieging Numantia, he wished to inspect not only the arms and the horses, but also the mules and the waggons, that every man might have them in readiness and good order. Marius, accordingly, brought out for inspection both a horse that had been most excellently taken care of by him, and a mule that for health, docility, and strength far surpassed all the rest. The commanding officer was naturally well pleased with the beasts of Marius and often spoke about them, so that in time those who wanted to bestow facetious praise on a persevering, patient, laborious man would call him a Marian mule."
(thanks to Bill Thayer saving my typing fingers)
...and also Frontinus 'Strategemata' IV.1.7
For the purpose of limiting the number of pack animals, by which the march of the army was especially hampered, Gaius Marius had his soldiers fasten their utensils and food up in bundles and hang these on forked poles, to make the burden easy and to facilitate rest; whence the expression "Marius's mules."
(courtesy Bill Thayer and Lacus Cutius again !)
...and there are physical remains too such as the skeleton found on the Kalkriese site.
It seems wherever Legionaries went, Mules went too !!
8)
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
