Volume II—Nr. 1, Mar. 2020
Speaks the little or no participation by you, then this is not the unit for you. Centurio Our members believe passionately by Gaius Vorenus about what we do and are willing to Tribune Legio IX do what it takes to get things done. Through the work of our membership we ur unit is only have amassed shields, chainmail, gladii, as strong as caligae, tunics, etc. for loaner gear its membership. until new members could acquire what OThis is a call to they needed. The unit and its members action. If you think have stood united to put forth eff ort to we should be doing support and encourage participation of more as a unit; then recruits. Unfortunately, our commitment commit to doing more. If you are wanting to helping some of our recruits went to see things done; then step forward unrewarded as some of those recruits and do it. In other words, what we do chose to do other things, join other depends in large part on our members. groups, etc. How many times has Marsh posted things One of the key elements critical to on our communication outlets only to our new recruits should be a measure be met with silence, or apathy? As the and appreciation of the unit and comic strip character Pogo remarked, understanding, if you want to make the “We have met the enemy and they is us!” unit better; then do it and don’t expect We need active members who believe and it to be done by others. are committed to the idea of recreating the Roman experience. Out of our last group of new recruits we defi nitely got some great members! They We have a good core of members who are like gold nuggets in a prospector’s have been with the unit through good and rough times: true Romans. Members who have an undaunted spirit and a desire to help this unit succeed. Unfortunately, we have had some who have joined and left our ranks who thought it would be easy. Some who expected to have things handed to them or done for them, but have made little or no contribution, other than perhaps time. If you want something for nothing and others to do the work with
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 1 pan who is searching for gold. To rewarding future. You have chosen to those our newest recruits, watch become part of the legend of our these members and the unit achieve legion! many inspiring accomplishments, Best regards, beginning with the building of a small castra. These individuals are the emerging leadership of our unit. By joining Legio IX as a new recruit Gaius Vorenus you are choosing to march like Tribune true Romans toward an exciting and COHORS III CENTURIA CASSIUS MARTIALIS
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 2 in Hancock, MD later in September Ramblings from we have been invited to. If, as we plan, the Castra project really gets Atop the Soap- going, we plan fabricas throughout box… the summer. If you need to make gear, let us by D.M VARIANvS know. Same with ordering from the Signifer Legio IX unit. Our Quartermaster, Marcvs Lentvlvs can guide you in choices. kay, so I Please don’t buy stuff without am going checking with him... to try and Oput something Last, please remeber: thisis a out once a month hobby and hobbies are meant to be for a bit. No, fun. Yelling, fl ipping out, etc. are I will not mail just not part of it. We’ve all seen it to you. In units that have “screamers” in them. this endeavor, Josh, Rob and Chris And, we want to “want” to go to have pledged to help, perhaps with events. You’re a member! Your input other’s help also. Have a question? is important. Ask. Wanna know more about the Roman Army in Britain (if it isn’t on RiB -- Romans in Britain @ www.romanobritain.org, D. M. Varianus we can cover it here). Signifer, Legio IX A Year to Move Forward to Victory PS: Citizens, please don’t get all puff y and hyperventilate if something We have an event coming April 4-5 DOESN’T happen like we post here, in Boyd’s MD. We are also planning it’ll not be the end of the world, on a return to the Virgnia Scottish but we’re sure gonna try to get these Games held on Labor Day weekend. things done!!! There is also another timeline event
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 3 a month from the fi rst to the last day. Instead, they counted back from Roman Holidays three fi xed points of the month: the Nones (the 5th or 7th, nine days inclusive in this Month: before the Ides), the Ides (the 13th he Romans celebrated many for most months, but the 15th in diff erent holidays, just March, May, July, and October), and like we do. The festivals the Kalends (1st of the following month). Tof ancient Rome included many Originally the Ides were supposed customs which have been carried to be determined by the full moon, over into later holidays. The refl ecting the lunar origin of the main signifi cance of ancient Rome Roman calendar. In the earliest in relation to modern holidays calendar, the Ides of March would is that many of these customs have been the fi rst full moon of the still continue today. These were new year. on the old Roman calendar. Religious observances Matronalia, March 1. The Ides of each month were sacred Equiria, March 14. to Jupiter, the Romans’ supreme Ides of March, March 15. It deity. The Flamen Dialis, Jupiter’s was on the Ides of March high priest, led the “Ides sheep” that Julius Caesar was (ovis Idulis) in procession along the assasinated. Via Sacra to the arx, where it was Festival of Anna Perenna, sacrifi ced. March 15. In addition to the monthly Liberalia, March 17. Also sacrifi ce, the Ides of March was also known as Agonalia. the occasion of the Feast of Anna Perenna, a goddess of the year (Latin Quinquatrus [Quinquatria?], March 19-21. annus) whose festival originally concluded the ceremonies of the new Tubilustrium, March 23. year. The day was enthusiastically celebrated among the common people with picnics, drinking, and revelry. One source from late antiquity also The Ides of places the Mamuralia on the Ides of March. This observance, which March has aspects of scapegoat or ancient he Ides of March (Latin: Idus Greek pharmakos ritual, involved Martiae) was a day in the Roman beating an old man dressed in animal calendar that corresponds to skins and perhaps driving him from T15 March. It was marked by several the city. The ritual may have been religious observances and was a new year festival representing the notable for the Romans as a deadline expulsion of the old year. for settling debts. In the later Imperial period, In 44 BC, it became notorious as the Ides began a “holy week” of the date of the assassination of festivals celebrating Cybele and Julius Caesar which made the Ides Attis, being the day Canna intrat of March a turning point in Roman (“The Reed enters”), when Attis was history. born and found among the reeds of a Phrygian river. He was discovered by The Romans did not number days of
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 4 shepherds or the goddess Cybele, who come”, implying that the prophecy had was also known as the Magna Mater not been fulfi lled, to which the seer (“Great Mother”) (narratives diff er). A replied “Aye, Caesar; but not gone.” week later, on 22 March, the solemn This meeting is famously dramatised commemoration of Arbor intrat (“The in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Tree enters”) commemorated the death Caesar, when Caesar is warned by of Attis under a pine tree. A college the soothsayer to “beware the Ides of priests, the dendrophoroi (“tree of March.” The Roman biographer bearers”) annually cut down a tree, Suetonius identifi es the “seer” as a hung from it an image of Attis, and haruspex named Spurinna. carried it to the temple of the Caesar’s death was a closing event Magna Mater with lamentations. The in the crisis of the Roman Republic, day was formalized as part of the and triggered the civil war that offi cial Roman calendar under Claudius would result in the rise to sole (d. 54 AD). A three-day period of power of his adopted heir Octavian mourning followed, culminating with (later known as Augustus). Writing celebrating the rebirth of Attis on under Augustus, Ovid portrays the 25 March, the date of the vernal murder as a sacrilege, since Caesar equinox on the Julian calendar. was also the Pontifex Maximus of Rome and a priest of Vesta. On Assassination of Julius Caesar the fourth anniversary of Caesar’s In modern times, the Ides of March death in 40 BC, after achieving a is best known as the date on which victory at the siege of Perugia, Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 Octavian executed 300 senators and BC. Caesar was stabbed to death at knights who had fought against him a meeting of the Senate. As many as under Lucius Antonius, the brother 60 conspirators, led by Brutus and of Mark Antony. The executions were Cassius, were involved. According to one of a series of actions taken by Plutarch, a seer had warned that harm Octavian to avenge Caesar’s death. would come to Caesar no later than Suetonius and the historian Cassius the Ides of March. On his way to the Dio characterised the slaughter as a Theatre of Pompey, where he would be religious sacrifi ce, noting that it assassinated, Caesar passed the seer occurred on the Ides of March at the and joked, “The Ides of March are new altar to the deifi ed Julius.
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 5 Latin for the Reenactor
by Joshua Boyer – Junius Faustus Lorica Segmentata (LOR-ee-kah Legio IX Hispana seg-mehn-TA-ta) – segmented armor, referring to the n order to bring one’ s period plated chest piece worn by more wealthy soldiers at the persona to life, it is important dawn of the empire that one have a basic understanding Iof the Lingua Romanorum, or Language Hamata (hah-MAH-tah) – of the Romans. Being able to use chainmail rudimentary phrases is a good way to Ignis (EHG-nes) – fi re immerse yourself into the event as Ignis Castrorum (EHG-nes KAS- well as impress any passers-by that tro-rum) – campfi re, or more happen to stumble upon our displays. literally, fi re of the camp Below are several words and phrases along with their pronunciations that Ardere! (are-DHER-rey) to would be commonly on the tongue of a burn or to ignite, shouting Roman Legionnaire. this in the infi nitive version shown here is used as a It is important to note that command to set light to a * in classical Latin all V’s town or village. are pronounced as W’s* Coquus (KOH-cwus) – cook, the Salve! (SAL-wey) - Hello (to a guy you wouldn’t want to piss singular person) off ; he’s making your food afterall! Salvete! (sal-WEH-tey) – Hello (to more than one Contubernium (kohn-too-BER- person) nee-uhm) – a squad of 10 men, the most basic unit within Miles (ME-les) – Soldiers the Roman military. Amicus (ah-MEE-coos) – friend Now that we have gone over some Amici (ah-MEE-kee) - friends basic soldiery vocab, lets move on Castra (KAS-trah) – Camp to a few phrases that would be used daily by soldiers on campaign Centurio (ken-TUR-e-o) – Centurion (captain) Quid agas hodie? (KW-id ah- GHAS HO-dee-ay) – How are you Cibus (KEH-boos) – food today? Cenam (KEH-nahm) – dinner Sum (soom) – I am (often Terra (TEH-rah) – Earth or followed by one of the below) dirt Laetus (LIE-tus) – happy or Septrintionalis (sep-TREN- jovial (insert the hysterical tee-oh-nah-les) – northern, laughter of Sextus here) or northmost (referring to the Tristus (TRIH-st-us) – sad provences) (like Faustus when the wine Pilum (PEE-lum) – spear is gone!) Scutum (s-KHOO-tum) – tower Iratus (ih-RA-toos) – angry shield or mad (the way Marcus stays) Galea (gal-EH-ah) – helmet Fessus (FEH-soos) – tired (like Rob at every event!)
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 6 Ferocior (fer-OH-kee-or) – you back to the period mentally and annoyed or irritated (anyone emotionally. Crowds and passers-by wanna guess at who I take a crack at will think highly of our unit if here?) we manage to get these things down Quaenam Tempestas Hodie? and done right in the public eye. (KWAYE-nam tem-PES-tas hoe- If nothing else, however, you should DEE-ay) – what is the weather want to learn these things out of like today? a simple love for the craft. Rome was the greatest civilization to Memento disciplinam! (mehm- EHN-toh dis-KIP-lin-ahm) – ever exist and we should consider it remember your training! nothing short of astounding that her language is still around for us to nam amor deorum… (nahm AH-mor study and learn! day-OH-rum) – for the love of the gods... (often said in Until next month, mea amici! disgust, such as “good grief” or “for heaven’s sake”) Hearing these words and phrases at -Marcus Junius Faustus our events will do wonders to take
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 7 Your Body Parts ere’s something that you already know some of. [Sextvs get’s excited]. A quick overview of your body parts in Latin. Do you need to memorize Hthis? Of course not... just having an idea of things is helpful. And yes, we know that you want to get right to the neato stuff , like armor and swords and stuff — and we will, but these things are important too! Think how much others will be impressed with your your knowledge.
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 8 Regional Cultural Heritage
he Romans were not a homogenous knowledge of military minutia. A people! The Roman Empire soldier from Eboracum (York, where we consisted of peoples from many are stationed), for example, would not Tlands — from recently subjugated and have noticed, nor cared less about conquered enemies, to Citizens from the diff erence between a Gallic “H” lands who had joined Rome, along and Itallic “D” helmet — they were with those from lands conquered in simply helmets, one having more shiny the past and now “trusted” enough to bits than the other. Perhaps diff erent make Citizens — all from diff ering units had diff erent styles of helmets parts of the massive Empire. Rome and that one was from Legio XXXIV truly WAS the “melting pot” of the (girlie-men) or Cohort II (those cowardly ancient world! As reenactors, we try bastards!) we just don’t know. Anyway, to portray these people and in doing the miles would certainly have known so, we kind of need to know where who Caesar is (Nero) and probably his we’re “from. As a Roman, we’d know predecessor. He’d know a bit about where we’re from even if you weren’t where he was stationed, in our case going home for 25 years, you’d sure Britannia... know where it was. :-Þ It’s a good bet our man would know about the Celts and how they fought; Latin the name “Boudica” would surely Although we KNOW they would have elicit a strong response. had regional dialects, we don’t know what ANY of that sounded like — we Things like this are important in don’t even know what “normal” Latin fi nding the Man inside the lorica. from back then sounded like... all When you become the Roman “Man,” we have is the pronunciation carried yourself — when you start thinking down by the Catholic Church (actually, of yourself as “Titus” or “Marcus” the church also carried down MANY Roman or “Caius.” When your friends call traditions and practices). Let’s just try you by that name, then you’ll be to learn Latin words for stuff with well on your way. the accepted pronunciations and not Research Italy or better yet, head down the (very) slippery slope of Roman-Britain, then look what towns accents. Josh Boyer has volunteered were there “then” — look at photos of to help here. We aren’t going for the places around there (the ‘Net has grammar or other boring things, but made this kind of thing much easier as every to give you a useable set of phrases town in the world almost has a website). and words. Think cartoon pictures and words, with phonetics. A small, bite-sized bit at a time much like Publivs has learned big English wurdz.
A General Knowledge is the Key For the reenactor, a general knowledge of the regional culture of his “historical” home is more important than detailed
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 9 exercises were of fundamental Belief and Belonging importance in fostering mass unit identity and maintaining morale at Roman Legionary 58 BC — AD 69” the level of the legion, because by Ross Cowan — Osprey Warrior these might be the only times outside #71. Very little has been of war when the full unit gathered changed or modifi ed (some few together. things). Why try and re-write something this good. Buy it, Group Identity read it, know it, live it! What made the legionary truly by Ross Cowan eff ective in battle was his feeling of belonging to his centuriay and Unit identity in particular to his contubernium. Such identifi cation with the unit, nit identity at the level of and loyalty to the group of fellow the legion was fostered by soldiers, was crucial to numerals and titles. his performance in battle. UIt is notable that Augustus The legionary fought fi rst retained the numerals of for his comrades, his century the legions kept under arms and legion, then for booty after Actium. Previously, and glory, and lastly for when legions were only in the often distant emperor commission for about six and the Res Publica (Roman years, numerals were recycled state). amongst the next levy. Also, not until the middle of the The contubernium 1st century BC, when legions were in longer commission, The close bonds between did they acquire honorifi c titles the eight men of the contubernium to complement their numerals. One would have been strong simply by of the most famous legions of the virtue of having to share a cramped civil wars of 49-42 BC was the legio single room together in barracks, or Martia. Its honorifi c epithet, meaning a tent on campaign. The other crucial ‘war-like’, became so defi ning that bonding aspect of the contubernium the actual numeral of the legion is was that it was a “mess group.” The unknown. The legion was lost at sea Roman Army had no general messes in 42 BC. for its soldiers, no dining halls in its fortresses or mass catering Legionaries came to be identifi ed by facilities when on campaign. Roman the numerals or titles of their legion soldiers were expected to prepare (see Tacitus, Histories, 2.43). Identity their own meals and had to pay was enhanced by the veneration of for food by deductions from their specifi c emblems, perhaps alluding wages. As well as the shared daily to founders (the Bull for Caesar’s experience of eating together, we can III Gallica, or the Capricorn for imagine the soldiers (like all soldiers Augustus’ XIV Gemina), or to their throughout time) discussing the day’s battle honors (the elephant of V Alaudae occurrences, complaining about the or the dolphin and warship of X Fretensis). duty, the centurio and all manner Events such as the annual birthday of other things in their lives — it feast celebrating the foundation of truly was a family group! This kind the legion (natalis aquilae, ‘birthday of communal living was also essential of the eagle’), parades and training (and conducive) to the fostering of
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 10 group identity. Terms For Comradeship These bonds, created within the fort The terms for comradeship in the or camp, in training, daily duties, Roman Army are notable. Contubernalis, and at leisure and meal times, in meaning tent- or mess-mate within the the close proximity of the barracks, contubernium of eight legionaries, initially bound men together as expressed not only the most basic comrades. War and battle solidifi ed group and social ties within the these. The legionaries in the century legion, but also the dependency of fought eff ectively because they were contubernales upon each other in well known to each other as friends battle. Commilito (fellow-soldier) was and comrades — the centuria was not perhaps the most binding term, for such a large unit that it became it was applied across the spectrum faceless and impersonal. Moreover from the ordinary soldier (miles) to the legionaries took pride in their the general and, most importantly, collective identity as part of the Caesar himself. Commilito spoke of centuria. They were their own elite the unity of the army and of respect within the legion and were driven for fellow soldiers whatever their by the bonds of comradeship not to rank. However, a most interesting let their fellow soldiers down in occurrence of Commilito is found battle, to stand and fi ght for the on the funerary urn of an Augustan men around them. soldier. The brevity of this text
Ad Signum,Si MMarchh 22020--Page020 P 11 emphasizes the unjust death of a repel the assaults of the Gauls soldier by another in the same army until nightfall, but rather than be and the betrayal of comradeship: overrun they chose to commit suicide L. Hepenius L. f. ocisus ab (Caesar, Gallic War, 5.37). Appian gives comilitone an insight into the soldiers’ view of [sic]. : ‘Lucius Hepenius, suicide. He relates that soldiers of son of Lucius, killed by a the renowned legio Martia committed fellow soldier.’ suicide in defi ance of what they saw as a useless death when their transport The urn was discovered in a tomb ships were fi red and sunk by the fl eet at Asciano, south-east of Siena, and of Sextus Pompeius in 42 BC: contained a coin dating to 15 BC, suggesting death during the reign Some of the soldiers, of Augustus. It has been supposed especially the Martians, who excelled in bravery, were that Hepenius was a praetorian or a exasperated that they should soldier of the Urban Cohorts who was lose their lives uselessly, killed in Rome and whose ashes were and so killed themselves returned to his family for burial [rather] than be burned to (Keppie 2000: 317). death. Others leaped on board Manipularis or commanipularis the vessels of the enemy, selling their lives dearly. (soldier in the same maniple) implied the (Appian, Civil Wars, 4.116) reliance of legionaries upon each other, and century upon century, This choice of suicide appears to for success and survival in battle. have been quite honorable, a way of The most poignant term, regularly cheating the enemy of total victory inscribed on tombstones, was frater and could even be viewed as a means (brother). On many such monuments it of maintaining the honor of the is clear from the diff erent family army. During the siege of Jerusalem, names of the deceased and the heir(s) the Jews trapped a large number of that they could not have been actual Roman soldiers by setting fi re to the brothers, but the term expresses, with portico in which they were fi ghting, great eloquence and simplicity, the cutting off their line of retreat. fundamental bonds between comrades. Most burned to death or were cut down If the legion can be described as by the Jews, but Longus escaped: a society, the contubernium was the The Jews, in their admiration family of the legionary. of Longus’ prowess and from their inability to kill him, Comradeship to the Extreme besought him to come down Fraternity between comrades could ... pledging him his life. even extend to the extremes of mass His brother Cornelius ... suicide. In AD 28, 400 auxiliaries implored him not to disgrace trapped in a villa complex by the his own reputation or Roman Frisii chose to fall on each other’s arms. Infl uenced by his words, swords, rather than be taken by the he brandished his sword in view of both armies and slew enemy (Tacitus, Annals, 4.73). In 54 BC, himself. (Josephus, Jewish War, one of Caesar’s legions and fi ve other 6.185-88) legionary cohorts were destroyed when trying to evacuate the territory Above all, such episodes illustrate of the Eburones. Some legionaries how the ties that bound a unit managed to fi ght their way back to together remained, even in times of their abandoned winter camp and to greatest stress and terror, that a
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 12 man would rather die in a pact with his fellow soldiers than be taken by the enemy. Even suicide stimulated by shame, for example that of the apparently cowardly soldier recalled by Suetonius (Otho, 10), could be viewed as redemptive and as the ultimate expression of comradeship. Suetonius Laetus, father of the biographer Suetonius, served as legate of legio XIII Gemina during the civil war of AD 69. He recalled an episode when a messenger reported to the Emperor Otho the defeat of his forces near Cremona: When the garrison [at Brixellum] called him a liar and a cowardly deserter, the man fell on his sword at Otho’s feet. At this sight, Otho, my father reported, cried out that he would never again risk the lives of such courageous men, who had deserved so well. (Suetonius, Otho, 10) Otho himself went on to commit suicide. In times of war the concept of fraternity was extended and soldiers fought in support of other units as well as their immediate comrades. A notable example occurred in AD 28 when during a disastrous battle fought mainly by auxiliary units against the Frisii, legio V mounted a counter-attack and extricated a large number of the auxiliaries. However, 900 auxiliaries could not escape and fought to the end (Tacitus, Annals, 4.73; not to be confused with the 400 who committed suicide). Velleius Paterculus’ epitaph for legios XVII, XVIII and XIX lost in the Varus’ disaster of AD 9, indicates their cohesion as a battle group: ‘they were the bravest of all the armies.’ (2.119.2) [end of this bit of cool and useful stuff from Ross Cowan’s book — BUY IT!]
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 13 Guidelines for Submission of Material to Ad Signum e encourage, in fact, absolutely our editing might aff ect something need, contributions of material important or sensitive, we will be to this publication if it is to glad to e-mail you a proof galley of continue.W This includes, but is not your article if requested. limited to, articles, letters, fi ction writing, practical tips, reports Electronic Format on events, historical research, The following are the preferred original or duplicated art work and media and software for the transferal photographs. Just about anything to of articles written with word do with the Roman Army, The Roman processing, in order of preference: Empire, and its enemies and Allies 1. In M.S. Word: doc or docx format and/or the Ancient World can be used 2. In any other software (try to go light on Greek stuff ). 3. An e-mail with formatting. 4. Text fi les written in notepad or The editing, design, layout and wordpad or whatever. pre-press production of Ad Signum is done by Decimvs and Marcvs, who 5. In any other software that we have been using desktop publishing can import or access. software since the olden days (right Articles may be E-mailed to us, after Caesar died), in this case both through one of our emails listed. PC and Mac platforms Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, MS Word is used Paper Format for much of the editing and Adobe The following is the preferred format Illustrator and CorelDraw are the for articles submitted on paper (in order of primary applications used to produce preference): this publication. This allows for a lot of diff erent options in submitting 1. Typed, double-spaced using material. upper and lower case style (not all capital letters) The following is a list of our 2. Neatly hand printed. submission guidelines and policies. 3. Cuneform writing on clay These will give you an idea of how tablets. to best prepare stuff before you send 4. Written in legible handwriting it, and what will happen to it after we get it. Artwork Photoopies of line drawings will Written Material work fi ne. Pen and ink (with black ink) General: It is the policy of Ad drawings work best; pencil sketches Signum to proofread all articles or don’t reproduce as well. Artwork letters and edit them for length, will be returned on request. accuracy, grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity and taste where Photographs necessary. We appreciate receiving Preferably something scanned and/ material that is as fi nished as or from a digital camera. We prefer possible, however, do not worry about NOT to get photos that we have to getting everything perfect—just get scan, but will do it if we have to, it done, and we will take care of the but you’ll likely be cleaning the polishing! If you are concerned that latrines next week.
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 14 Upcoming Events • April 4-5. 2020: Private Event: Boyd’s MD • September 5 & 6, 2020: Virginia Scottish Games: Great Meadow, The Plains, Va • September 26 & 27 2020: Timeline event: Hancock, MD • More to come...
Unit Contacts • Tribune (Calmer of things, wise elder statesman, spirit of the unit): Rob Zienta C:410.599.4229
The Fine Print... AD SIGNUM! is the Offi cial Newsletter of Legio IX Hispana. Ad Signum is (supposed to be) published monthly. Please submit any articles you’d like published to the editor, Marsh Wise at varianus@reenac tor.net (sorry, electronic format only), as text fi le or M.S. Word document or really, most electronic format. The Legio IX website is https://www.legioix.org/
Ad Signum, March 2020--Page 15