THE SCUTUM

The key to a legionary’s survival was the shield. It was called a scutum.  Polybius describes it as being rectangular and 2 ½ foot wide and 4 feet tall. “It consists of two layers of wood fastened together with bull’s-hide glue; the outer surface of which is first covered with Read more…

THE LEVY

            The army of the Second Punic is sometimes called the manipular army or the Polybian army. The word legion comes from the Latin word for a gathering or a levy. This was a reference to the method of forming the army. When the two consuls were appointed, they called Read more…

THE BATTLE OF HERACLEA

               The first battle in the Pyrrhic War was fought near Heraclea in 280. Heraclea was located southwest of Tarentum on the sole of Italian boot. The Romans camped on the other side of a river. When a scout was captured, the Romans knew Pyrrhus was nearby. Pyrrhus’ army consisted Read more…

THE STAINED TOGA

         In 282 B.C., the city of Thurii asked Tarentum to help it against the Lucanians. When the Tarentines turned them down, Thurii asked Rome. As you can imagine, the Romans were only too happy to rescue the damsel in distress. A Roman army defeated a Lucanian Read more…

THE BATTLE OF AQUILONIA

              294 B.C. was marked by raiding by both sides and several battles. One of the battles saw the Samnites taking advantage of a thick fog to assault a Roman camp. They captured the tent of the quaestor (the lowest elected official who supervised the treasury; they were sometimes assigned Read more…

THE BATTLE OF ALLIA  Part 1

In 404 B.C.E., a Celtic tribe called the Senones (the word meant “the ancient ones”) crossed the Alps and settled in northern Italy. They gradually conquered southward until they controlled the Po River Valley. They then came into conflict with the Etruscans. This benefited Rome because it distracted the Etruscans Read more…