Feeding the Soldiers

[D B Campbell]

Were there not also 'officer's clubs' (scholae) in many fortresses? They were legalised by Severus, but if SHA Hadrian can be believed (the reference to 'banquet halls') they must have existed unofficially before then too.

It's an interesting thought. However, I think that HA Hadr. 10.4 (... triclinia de castris et porticus et cryptas et topia dirueret: "he demolished dining-rooms in the camps and colonnades and vaults and fancy gardens") is meant to describe the residences of the legionary legates. (The term castra is typical for legionary fortresses.)

I don't think I am the first to describe these praetoria (sing., praetorium) as "palaces". I am always struck by the amazing size and scale of the twin praetoria in the double camp at Vetera, each of which has an enormous ornamental garden in the shape of a hippodrome!

(There's a plan in the Osprey Roman Fortresses book, p. 14.)