PDF version (36MB) - Cambridge School Classics Project

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Josephus, The Jewish War 3.93-7The men move forward all marching in silence and in good order. Each man keeps his own position as if hewere fighting.Foot-soldiers are armed with a cuirass and a helmet. They carry two swords, one on each side. The oneon the left is much longer than the other. The one on the right is not much more than a span in length. Thesoldiers chosen to form the general's bodyguard carry a spear and a round shield. The ordinary soldiercarries a javelin and a tall oblong shield. In addition, he carries a saw, a basket, a mattock and an axe, aswell as a leather strap, a sickle, a chain, and enough rations to last him for three days. In fact he carries somuch equipment that he is not very different from a pack-mule.Cavalrymen wear a long sword on the right and hold a long thrusting spear in the hand. They have a largeshield which rests on the horse's back and a quiver with three or more weapons for throwing, which havebroad points and are as long as spears. Their helmets and cuirasses are the same as those worn by all thefoot-soldiers. The cavalrymen who have been chosen to form the general's bodyguard are armed in exactlythe same way as the rest of the cavalry.The legion which is to lead the marching column is always chosen by lot.Josephus, The Jewish War 1.12They are also taught not to cut with their swords but to thrust. The Romans find it so easy to beat people whouse their swords to cut rather than thrust that they laugh in their faces. For a cutting stroke, even when madewith full force, rarely kills. The vital organs are protected by the armour as well as by the bones of the body.On the other hand, a stab even two inches deep is usually fatal. So you have to make sure that whatever youcut the body with goes in far enough to reach the vital organs. Besides, if you attempt to cut rather than thrustwith your sword, you expose your right arm and side. Yet when you deliver a thrust the body is protected andthe enemy is wounded before he even sees the sword. This is the method of fighting that the Romans chieflyuse.Personal equipmentLegionary10 WJEC Level 2 Certificate in Latin Language and Roman Civilisation: The Roman Army
Sword blade, found at Newstead,ScotlandDagger and sheath, found atHod Hill, DorsetLegionaries advancing in combatWJEC Level 2 Certificate in Latin Language and Roman Civilisation: The Roman Army 11
Page 1 and 2: CSCP Support MaterialsTeaching Supp
Page 3 and 4: ContentsIntroduction...............
Page 5 and 6: Recruitment and trainingWJEC Level
Page 7 and 8: Arrius Menander, On Military Affair
Page 9: Weapons and equipmentWJEC Level 2 C
Page 13 and 14: Two soldiers, relief found in Mainz
Page 15 and 16: Auxiliary soldiers, Trajan’s Colu
Page 17 and 18: Daily dutiesWJEC Level 2 Certificat
Page 19 and 20: Josephus, The Jewish War III.85-93O
Page 21 and 22: Pay and promotionWJEC Level 2 Certi
Page 23 and 24: ILS 2658, tombstone from Kasserine
Page 25 and 26: Tombstone of an optio, from Chester
Page 27 and 28: Plan of a legionary fortressPlan of
Page 29 and 30: Josephus, The Jewish War III.70The
Page 31 and 32: Granary, Housesteads FortLatrines,
Page 33 and 34: Gravestone of Julius Valens, a vete
Page 35 and 36: RIB 2213 tombstone, Ardoch, Perth a

PDF version (36MB) - Cambridge School Classics Project

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?