PART 2 TEACHERS’ NOTES GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER

LET’S INVESTIGATE NOTES AND OBJECT CHECKLIST GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER

Men from three ‘legions’ of Roman soldiers feet leather sandal-like boots with studded were stationed in Scotland in the Antonine soles. They were not supposed to marry, period: the Second Legion, the Sixth Legion but many did and their families followed the and the Twentieth Legion. The legions were legions around and lived outside the forts in a groups of around 5,000 professional soldiers, village known as a vicus. who had committed to the army for twenty- five years. Each legion had their own symbol. Each fort on the Antonine Wall held around 500 men. When on duty, the soldiers were Legionaries were all Roman citizens. They occupied with training, patrolling the Wall and fought mostly on foot, using short , carrying out maintenance or administrative daggers and , and were protected by tasks – as well as actual fighting if required. helmets, body and shields. They wore woollen tunics under their armour and on their

The box contains the following replica objects on this theme:

• Shoes • and scabbard TEACHER SUPERVISION REQUIRED • Shield • head • Legionary’s helmet TEACHER SUPERVISION REQUIRED • Body armour • Wax tablets and writing tools • Tunics • Water canteen • Dagger and scabbard TEACHER SUPERVISION REQUIRED

FURTHER RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

www.antoninewall.org/about-wall/building-wall/legions-auxillary-units This website has information about the three legions based on the Antonine wall.

www.nms.ac.uk/explore/games/discover-the-romans/discover-the-romans/ dress-a-roman-soldier/ This website has a ‘dress the soldier’ activity.

PART 2 TEACHERS NOTES GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER 1/3 ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1: ACTIVITY 2: MAKE A LEGIONARY MAKE WEAPONS Create ‘paper dolls’ of legionary soldiers, and Using the real items as inspiration, pupils make a set of clothes, armour and weapons make life-size cardboard weapons, shield and for them to wear. Add lollipop sticks and turn armour. Templates for sword, helmet and them into puppets. Pupils could use different legionary badges can be found here: materials (e.g. cloth, foil etc.) to make the www.antoninewall.org/learning-centre/ clothes more real. Or you could dress Action primary/downloadable-resources Man-type dolls. Images of legionary soldiers can be found here: www.antoninewall. org/learning-centre/ primary/downloadable-resources

ACTIVITY 3: ACTIVITY 4: ROMAN BOOT CAMP ROMAN WRITING Use drama to set up a Roman boot camp, Use the wax tablets to write messages. where pupils learn how to use weapons, put Download the resource Latin words and on armour etc. You could use the weapons numbers from www.antoninewall. org/ you made in activity 2. Can you drill them to learning-centre/primary/downloadable- form a tortoise or testudo formation? Take resources. This includes numbers and some photographs and then pupils could use the simple words or phrases. Pupils could also photos to create a training manual or poster. experiment with the best techniques for writing and rubbing out using the writing You could make up your own version of the tools. traditional ‘Port and Starboard’ game, using the commands in Latin below They may be interested to find out more www.games4youthgroups.com/circle- about the Vindolanda writing tablets – records games/port-starboard.html written by Romans based at Vindolanda on Hadrian’s Wall – at one time the oldest Here are some commands in Latin: handwritten documents found in Britain. • Ad aciem – Form line! (ranks facing These were written on thin slivers of wood the enemy) rather than on wax tablets. The information • Pila iacite – Throw javelins! they provide reveals a huge amount about day to day life in Roman Britain. They also • Gladios stringite – Draw swords! include a letter from the wife of one of the fort • Parate – Get ready! commanders, inviting a friend to her birthday party! • Percutite – Charge! • Testudinem facite - Form testudo! (tortoise V-Mail: Letters from the Romans and formation with shields overhead) Vindolanda Fort near Hadrian’s Wall, Katharine Hoare, 2008 is a great book for children about the Vindolanda writing tablets.

PART 2 TEACHERS NOTES GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER 2/3 HANDLING BOX OBJECT CHECKLIST RECEIVED AND RETURNED

THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER

Tick Tick Object Quantity Notes received returned

1 x pair of adult shoes 1. Shoes 1 x pair of child’s shoes

Not stored in 2. Shield 1 the box.

3. Legionary’s helmet 1

2 x shoulder pieces HEAVY HANDLE 4. Body armour 1 x body piece WITH CARE.

5. Tunics to wear 2 x tunics Child sizes underneath

CHILDREN TO 1 x dagger 6. Dagger and scabbard HANDLE UNDER 1 x scabbard SUPERVISION.

CHILDREN TO 1 x sword 7. Sword and scabbard HANDLE UNDER 1 x scabbard SUPERVISION.

CHILDREN TO 8. Spear head 1 x spearhead HANDLE UNDER SUPERVISION.

9. Wax tablets 4

10. Writing tools 4

Received Returned

PART 2 TEACHERS NOTES GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER 3/3 GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER All of these objects are replicas (copies) of LET’S 1 things worn or carried by Roman legionary soldiers when they invaded Scotland. A INVESTIGATE! Look at the objects. legionary was a highly trained professional Were they for soldier who was a Roman citizen. He protecting the soldier, served in the army for 25 years. They had or for attacking to buy their own weapons and uniform, enemies – or both? and keep them in sparkling condition.

4 3 Strike a pose - are 2 Dress up in you attacking, the objects. defending, injured, or Talk about the resting? Take a questions on the photograph as a cards for each record. object.

5

Finally, sketch one of the objects. TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look closely at both pairs of shoes • Do you think these would keep your feet warm? • Look at how they are the same • Do you think the Roman soldiers SHOES • Look at how they are they different wore socks?

• Look at the materials they are • Why do you think there were slits made from in the leather?

• Think about how these shoes tie up • What do you think the studs in the • Compare them to your shoes and bottom are for? think about how they are the same Write notes and ideas from your or different discussions in the notes section below

NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • Do you think these would keep your feet warm?

• Do you think the Roman soldiers The soldier’s wore socks? SHOES shoes were • Why do you think there were slits called in the leather? . The shoes They had slits • What do you think the studs in the with the high to let the air in bottom are for? ankle were worn by soldiers on and stop the feet Write notes and ideas from your duty. getting too sweaty. discussions in the notes section The shoes below with the closed toes are copies of shoes found at Bar Hill Roman fort.

The studs in the bottom were to stop Around 70 pairs the soldier slipping of shoes have been around, and helped found at Bar Hill them last longer as fort on the Antonine they marched over Wall. Some are long distances. even for women and children.

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look at the size and shape of the • How many different ways do you shield think a Roman soldier could use his shield? • Think about where and how you SHIELD could hold it • Why do you think the middle part was made of metal? • Pick it up carefully and feel the weight of it • Which part of the soldier would not be protected by the shield? • Look at the metal bit in the centre and think about what this could Write notes and ideas from your be for discussions in the notes section below

NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • How many different ways do you think a Roman soldier could use his shield? This shield • Why do you think the middle part SHIELD was known as a Rectangular was made of metal? . shields like this were used by • Which part of the soldier would not legionaries. Other be protected by the shield? types of soldiers The metal had oval shields. part protected Write notes and ideas from your his hand as discussions in the notes section he held the below The shield protected shield. the soldier’s body.

Roman soldiers could group together and put their shields over their This testudo heads to defend ‘shell’ was so themselves against attack strong that a from above for example chariot could be from arrows. This was driven across called the testudo – or the top! tortoise formation.

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look at the different materials this • What materials is this helmet helmet is made of made of?

• Look closely at all the different • How many sections is the helmet HELMET parts and how they are all joined made of? together • Which part of the head does each section protect?

• What do you think the parts on top of the head might have been used for?

Write notes and ideas from your discussions in the notes section below NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • What materials is this helmet made of?

• How many sections is the helmet made of? HELMET The different • Which part of the head does each This type of sections of the section protect? helmet was known helmet protected as a and the skull, the back • What do you think the parts on was worn by of the neck and top of the head might have been legionaries. the sides of the used for? face. Write notes and ideas from your discussions in the notes section below It is made of The parts on top metal of the head might have been used to add a crest made of brightly coloured feathers. This helped soldiers spot the officer in charge during a battle, for example.

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look closely at the different parts • Which parts of the body does this of the armour armour protect?

BODY • Look at how those parts are joined • Why do you think it was made in together sections, rather than one piece?

ARMOUR • Look at the different materials the • Do you think the soldier wore armour is made from anything underneath?

• Compare it to the armour worn by the archer. Which would you prefer to wear? Why?

Write notes and ideas from your discussions in the notes section below NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • Which parts of the body does this armour protect?

• Why do you think it was made in BODY sections, rather than one piece?

• Do you think the soldier wore ARMOUR Legionaries anything underneath? wore this armour in battle to protect The metal • Compare it to the armour worn by themselves from hinges and leather the archer. Which would you prefer being stabbed by straps helped the to wear? Why? swords. soldier move more freely. Write notes and ideas from your discussions in the notes section below The thin metal plates were Soldiers would lighter than one have worn a tunic complete piece of underneath for metal and fitted warmth, protection better. and to stop the armour rubbing.

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look at the different materials the • What do you think the loops on dagger and its case are made from the scabbard are for?

• Look at the loops on the case • What animal can you see on the DAGGER case? • Look carefully at the decoration on the case • Why do you think the soldier carried a dagger as well as a sword?

Write notes and ideas from your HANDLE UNDER ADULT discussions in the notes section SUPERVISION ONLY! below

NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • What do you think the loops on the scabbard are for?

• What animal can you see on the case? DAGGER This is a short • Why do you think the soldier dagger, or carried a dagger as well as a in its case or sword? scabbard, which As well as being was carried by used as a Write notes and ideas from your legionaries. weapon, this was discussions in the notes section HANDLE UNDER ADULT also used as an below SUPERVISION ONLY! eating utensil.

The dagger was used as a general On the case is a purpose tool by picture of Romulus legionary soldiers, and Remus and a almost like a Swiss wolf. This was a army knife! story about how Rome was originally built.

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look at the different materials the • What materials are the sword and sword and its case are made of case made from?

• Think about how the loops on the • How would the soldier carry the SWORD case may have been used to carry sword and scabbard? the sword • What stops the soldier from cutting his own hand on the sword?

Write notes and ideas from your HANDLE UNDER ADULT discussions in the notes section SUPERVISION ONLY! below

NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • What materials are the sword and case made from?

• How would the soldier carry the sword and scabbard? SWORD

• What stops the soldier from cutting his own hand on the The sword is sword? metal with wood and leather on the Write notes and ideas from your This is a sword or handle, while the case is made of discussions in the notes section HANDLE UNDER ADULT , the most below SUPERVISION ONLY! important weapon wood, held together of the Roman by metal bands. soldier, and its case or scabbard.

They practised Soldiers had with wooden to buy and look weapons before after their own moving on to uniform, armour the real metal and weapons. ones.

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look at the how the spear head • What shape is the tip? has been flattened and shaped • What would the other end be SPEAR • Look at the rounded end and think attached to? about what it may have been HEAD attached to • Would it be easy to throw? • What would be good about throwing the spear at your enemy?

• What was the disadvantage?

HANDLE UNDER ADULT Write notes and ideas from your SUPERVISION ONLY! discussions in the notes section below

NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • What shape is the tip?

• What would the other end be attached to? SPEAR This is the head of a • Would it be easy to throw? or , a HEAD spear which the The spearhead • What would be good about soldiers threw. was attached to a throwing the spear at your enemy? long metal pole. When complete, it • What was the disadvantage? was around 2m long! Write notes and ideas from your HANDLE UNDER ADULT discussions in the notes section SUPERVISION ONLY! below In , soldiers began their attack by throwing the javelin. Then they rushed in Throwing the spear with their swords and meant that soldiers daggers to fight at could stay away from close quarters. the enemy for a little longer. But if they missed their target, then their spear was gone and wasted!

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER TAKE A LOOK WHAT DO YOU THINK? • Look at the different materials • What are these made of? these tablets and writing tools are made of • Do you think any parts are WAX TABLETS missing? • Try to work out how they were used for writing • Can you work out how to use AND PENS them? • Think about what the holes on the tablets are for • What kind of things would the Romans want to write?

• What would be the advantages of using these to write with?

• Can you think of any disadvantages?

Write notes and ideas from your discussions in the notes section below NOTES

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER INFORMATION • What are these made of?

• Do you think any parts are missing? WAX TABLETS The wooden • Can you work out how to use tablet with wax AND PENS was called a them? The holes were . The metal tabula where leather • What kind of things would the writing tool or pen strips would tie Romans want to write? was called a two tablets stylus. • What would be the advantages of together, to make using these to write with? a sort of book.

• Can you think of any disadvantages?

Write notes and ideas from your The pointed end discussions in the notes section of the writing tool or below pen was for writing in Romans used the wax, the flat end wax tablets like was for rubbing out these to write and smoothing the letters, give orders wax down again. and instructions, keep records and report on events.

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER OBJECT INFORMATION

1. SHOES 2. SHIELD • The shoes with the high ankle were worn by • This shield was known as a scutum. soldiers on duty. • Rectangular shields like this were used by legionaries. • They were called caligae. Other types of soldiers had oval shields. • They had slits to let the air in and stop the feet • The shield protected the soldier’s body. getting too sweaty. • The metal part protected his hand as he held • The studs in the bottom were to stop the soldier the shield. slipping around, and helped them last longer as they marched over long distances. • Roman soldiers could group together and put their shields over their heads to defend themselves against • The shoes with the closed toes are copies of shoes attack from above for example from arrows. This was found at Bar Hill Roman fort. called the testudo – or tortoise formation. • Around 70 pairs of shoes have been found at Bar • This testudo ‘shell’ was so strong that a chariot could Hill fort on the Antonine Wall. Some are even for be driven across the top! women and children.

3. HELMET 4. BODY ARMOUR • This type of helmet was known as a galea and was • Legionaries wore this armour in battle to protect worn by legionaries. themselves from being stabbed by swords. • It is made of metal. • The thin metal plates were lighter than one complete piece of metal and fitted better. • The different sections of the helmet protected the skull, the back of the neck and the sides of the face. • The metal hinges and leather straps helped the soldier move more freely. • The parts on top of the head might have been used to add a crest made of brightly coloured feathers. This • Soldiers would have worn a tunic underneath for helped soldiers spot the officer in charge during a warmth, protection and to stop the armour rubbing. battle, for example.

5. DAGGER 6. SWORD • This is a short dagger, or pugio in its case or • This is a sword or gladius, the most important weapon scabbard, which was carried by legionaries. of the Roman soldier, and its case or scabbard. • The dagger was used as a general purpose tool by • The sword is metal with wood and leather on the legionary soldiers, almost like a Swiss army knife! handle, while the case is made of wood, held together by metal bands. • As well as being used as a weapon, this was also used as an eating utensil. • Soldiers had to buy and look after their own uniform, armour and weapons. • On the case is a picture of Romulus and Remus and a wolf. This was a story about how Rome was • They practised with wooden weapons before moving originally built. on to the real metal ones.

7. SPEAR HEAD 8. & 9. WAX TABLETS AND PENS • This is the head of a javelin or pilum, a spear which • The wooden tablet with wax was called a tabula. The the soldiers threw. metal writing tool or pen was called a stylus. • The spearhead was attached to a long metal pole. • The pointed end of the writing tool or pen was for When complete, it was around 2m long! writing in the wax, the flat end was for rubbing out and smoothing the wax down again. • In battles, soldiers began their attack by throwing the javelin. Then they rushed in with their swords and • The holes were where leather strips would tie two daggers to fight at close quarters. tablets together, to make a sort of book. • Throwing the spear meant that soldiers could stay • Romans used wax tablets like these to write letters, away from the enemy for a little longer. But if they give orders and instructions, keep records and report missed their target, then their spear was gone and on events. wasted!

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER WHAT’S IN THE BOX

2. 3. 4.

1.

7. 8. & 9.

1. Shoes 5. Dagger and scabbard 2. Shield 6. Sword and scabbard 3. Legionary’s helmet 7. Spear head 5. 6. 4. Body armour 8. Wax tablets Tunics to wear underneath 9. Writing tools

GO ROMAN THEME 1: THE LEGIONARY SOLDIER