Quincunx and Keppie\'s hypothesis

[Mark Hygate]

In reviewing some of the answers and queries which have come up in more recent threads; I also went and reviewed this and other older and similar threads. This thread indeed is the one, particularly, that had problems last year and two were generated.

I am sure I asked a question here (but in the now lost other copy of the thread) and I thought it had been answered; but I would very much appreciate anyone chipping in now to confirm.....

I have just acquired a copy of Keppie's 'The Making of the Roman Army'; but it has really raised a question for me. Through just about all my generic reading over the years I had been given the impression that the 'quincunx formation' was something from an ancient source (that I just haven't seen) and that modern researchers had simply spent effort trying to determine exactly what it was. I thought access to Keppie would answer my question.

However, is the use of 'quincunx' (otherwise seemingly Latin to non-Ancient language specialists like myself) purely a modern expression. Is the actual formation/usage of Roman soldiers actually doing this not formally attested anywhere historically? :o