Thinking of Romans: Legion: Life In The Roman Army, British Museum, London

Joining the 12% of men allegedly thinking about the Romans once a week, I ventured forth to discover curated life for the Roman legions.

Getting into the British Museum was a truly horrible experience, one queue (maybe non-ticketed snaked down the pavement); a entrance sign pointed you through the exit, where you were smartly told to turn back. Only to find the entrance was corded off due to the immense queue. However, this was opened up to let people in with tickets to get scanned. Not that this made much different as both queues splurged into one mess in the tent for bag searches.

More and more the museum feels like a shop and less a museum. Though the cafe area was pleasant to walk through… Anyhow after all this, you feel ready to join…the Roman army (if you’re tall enough).

Following the life of a Roman soldier, from who was eligible to join, to how and where they lived, and life in retirement, we started with some beautiful funerary monuments and the individuals they commemorated. Alongside were Historical Histories panels with some activities, which were really engaging (even for adults!) Such as measuring yourself to see if you could join up — you had to be 172cm or 5 feet 7 inches. Age was no barrier — boys aged 13 could achieve this height and be signed up. Though if you were over 35 you were past it for enlisting.

Cleverly using quotes from real-life Roman soldiers, alongside some beautiful designs of standards, we were swept into the life of a legion. I enjoyed learning how the army was composed, the legion was only one kind of unit, and who did and didn’t get paid. For example, unsurprisingly, the enslaved could be forced to fight and not get paid or rewarded for it. ‘I am Spartacus’ has even more resonance because of this.

A wealth of objects was on display, insightfully revealing legion life and intelligently interpreted. The only issue was that the lighting was very shadowy and the information cards placed so that they could be easily overshadowed or blocked. Due to the busy nature of the exhibition, it was hard to read them. Best take an online guide!

However, wonderful things were on display. There were images of battle ready camels, and cavalry armour placed on a model. Along with the horse harness trappings was a distinctive cavalry helmet, with its short neck guard protecting the neck in the event of a fall from the saddle. Romans didn’t use stirrups, but leather covered saddle horns at each corner of the saddle to keep the rider securely seated. An armour plate covering for a horse, like a wide kind of chain mail-esque skirt, forming a protective horse blanket, (Cataphract armour). When not sweating and heavy laden, cavalry horses could also be sporting decorative silvered bronze rondels with Pliny’s name on them! Striped cloth, an amazing survivor Egyptian woolen sock and boots illustrated the distinctive clothes worn by soldiers — as well as their requests to family for superior garments. Then were parade helmets in a variety of ornamental styles, including an Amazon! Curls were very much in vogue all round! One higher ranking deceased Roman soldier had snazzy animal furs draped around his shoulders.

The quote from a soldier to their father was fascinating too: “I beg you, father, if it meets with your approval, to send me from there military sandals and a pair of felt socks. Sandals with buttons are worthless…”

Wonderful to behold were the Roman goatskin waterproof tent panels. Eight soldiers would share a tent and pay for the tent together, as well as cooking and eating together.

There was armour made from crocodile skin as well as some Roman chain mail! Wonder of wonders was a surviving decorated Roman shield, you could imagine the shield wall being created with them.

But my favourite object was the Draco, attached to a large pole to emit a terrifying screaming sound.

Alongside were some fantastic examples of standards, from the don’t lose this eagle to boars to a battered Emperor’s bust. (Though the army were fickle and the Emperor’s could be torn down as well as held up high with pride). Wondrous too was the cornu or giant looping horn which blasted away during battles, indicating the commander’s intentions, and the movement of standards, literally moving the soldiers into position.

Literacy was also an important skills— as it increased a soldier’s usefulness and their wages…There were many examples of letters on display (essential letters of recommendation for new recruits and letters home), as well as the soldier shown proudly holding his tablet/scroll, reading…

It was really sad to see the remains of a soldier who probably died helping survivors off the beach at Herculaneum during the eruption, complete with his distinctive belts for his sword, dagger and purse. His carpentry tools were in his satchel. Although it was hard to see, a soldier apparently killed by crucifixion, a nail still through his foot. Which brings a shudder to the viewer just contemplating it. As did the holes in the ox skull used for target practice..by artillery bolts.

When they weren’t playing dice and board games, they had domestic life to organise. This led to an intriguing section on women in the army, from wives to mistresses and camp followers, even empresses on tour of duty, ‘the mothers of the camps’. Objects included a woman’s shoe found at Vindolanda and a beautiful example of an ornamental guard dog for the front of the fort home!. Barrack life wasn’t easy as one soldier observed about a comrade who paid no more attention to him ‘than [to] a [toilet] sponge on a stick!” Then there were the “wretched Britons/wretched little Brits”, without armour and with many calvary, who didn’t follow prescribed Roman methods of fighting.

Though there was a map. Having learnt so much about their roles, the bit that was missing for me was how the army was used, where they were stationed, how and when they were moved around the Empire. The exhibition focused on one particular battle, with objects from it, but I would have liked more of a wide historical overview. However, this was the only weakness for me — it was a really strongly curated and presented exhibition, and really informative.

@ Images used are from the British Museum’s Legion exhibition and used purely to illustrate the author’s enjoyment of the exhibition. They are not the property of the author. June 2024.

Enjoyed reading this article?! Support my writing at: https://ko-fi.com/susanadventuresinculture