Aquilifer ( Latin aquilifer - "bearing eagle" from the Latin. Aquila - eagle) - an honorary position in the army of ancient Rome , the standard-bearer, who carried the legion eagle .
Until 104 BC. e. in the form of a “flag” (symbol of the legion) they could use the image of a wolf, a boar , a bull, a horse, and then a single standard was introduced ( Guy Maria’s reform) - an aquila - in the form of a golden or silver eagle. Aquilifer was one for the whole legion , was considered one of the highest non-commissioned officers (rank below the centurion ) and received a double salary . Outside of battle, the aquilifer served as the treasurer of the legion and the accountant (in charge of the savings of legionnaires placed under the protection of the flag).
Most of the famous images of aquilifers (the column of Trajan ) show them with their heads uncovered (in contrast to the signifiers and other standard-bearers who wore animal skins). However, judging by the few remaining tombstones, in battle the aquifiers wore the lion's skin over the helmet with their legs tied around their necks. The armament consisted of a sword ( gladius ), a dagger ( pugio ) and a small round shield ( parma ), which was worn on the side or behind the back on a shoulder strap. Aquilifiers used chain mail or scaly armor ( Lorika squamata ) as protective equipment. Under the armor, there was a leather podtospezhnik with pterigami (rectangular scallops with curly fringes at the ends) on the shoulders and hips. This element of the officers' gear, as well as the lion's skin, worn exclusively by Praetorian signifiers, emphasized the special status of an aquillifer.
The eagle of the legion was to be located next to the centurion of the first centurion of the first manipula of the first cohort , that is, the aquillifer actually accompanied the centurion- primipila .
See also
- Roman standard
- Signifer
- Imaginifer
- Veksillariy
Literature
- Stoll, Oliver. Der Adler im "Käfig". Zu einer Aquilifer-Grabstele aus Apamea in Syrien und Tabellarischer Anhang zur Darstellung des Legionsadlers und Anderer Signa in der römischen Plastik // Römisches Heer und Gesellschaft. Gesammelte Beiträge 1991–1999 . - Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2001. - S. 13—46. - (Mavors Roman army researches, vol. 13). - ISBN 3-515-07817-7 .
Links
- Rubtsov S. Standard-bearers of the Lower Danube Legions . Military history magazine "PARA BELLVM". The date of circulation is July 21, 2017.
- Connolly, Peter . Orlonosets middle of the 1st century n er . Roman military costume . The project "Roman Glory" . The date of circulation is July 21, 2017.
- Tombstone of Lucius Sertoria Firm, Signifier and Aquillife of the XI Claudian Legion . The site "History of Ancient Rome . " The date of circulation is July 21, 2017.