Surely heavy an light infantry plus cavalry commanded by the "
Meddix Tuticus" (the equivalent of the roman Consul).
Titus Liuius in his
Ab Urbe Condita - X, 38 and in his
Annales IX, 40 tells that in the second half of the third samnitic war (294 b.c.) were formed two different armies: the 16.000 men elite army of "
Legio Linteata" with shining gilded equipment and multicolored tunics, through a sacred and ancient ceremony of oath, a
devotio to the samnitic Gods within a sacred and canvas covered enclosure; plus another 20.000 men elite army with shining silvered equipment and white linen tunics. Both were annihilated during the battle/siege of
Aquilionia in the
Aesernia area by the roman Consul
Papirius Cursor's army.
The
Legio Linteata was organized on manipular basis: 10 x 1.600
manipulares, maybe subdivided in four 400 men sub-units that
Liuius call "
cohortes", again subdivided in two
manipuli and then in two
centuriae, commanded by a
Centurio Prior an one
Posterior. The division of the
Cohors in two
Manipuli could explain why the Romans adopted just in that period the same formation. That could drive to think that the Samnites front was organized in two lines: the light one equipped with javelins and shields; the heavy one equipped in the hoplitic way, as seen in the frescoes. Moreover were their allies.
See at [url:uj4sup23]http://xoomer.alice.it/davmonac/sanniti/smarm01.html[/url] a very fine site about the samnite warriors and wars equipment (click on "continua" or on the gladii for next pages).
In italian, but with many fine images, then you can always babelfish it...
samnitic standard bearer and warrior
samnitic light infantry
Vale,