2D Documentary sources
This gallery focuses on documentary evidence about Roman military equipment (e.g. literary and epigraphic sources) but also what is provided by the equipment itself (e.g. unit or individual ownership inscriptions and manufacturers’ marks).
MS 1 (f. 1-149): Liber I Machabaeorum. - Fl. Vegetii Renati epitomae rei militaris libb. IV. - 2 (f. 150-211): Index et vocabularium in Vegetii De re militari. - Excerpta ex S. Iulii Frontini Strategematibus. - Alia Frontiniana. Right-hand page includes Vegetius 2.13 with reference to the centurion's crista transversa ('transuersis cassidum cristis'). AD 900–1500. Image: Leiden University Libraries (CC BY 4.0)
Vegetius manuscript
The verso of P Mich 8 467. Claudius Terentianus writes (in Latin) to his father (Cl. Tiberianus, a legionary speculator) who had already sent him some clothes, but Terentianus now wanted a battle sword, dolabra, grappling iron, two of the best spears, & more clothing. Image: CSAD
Papyrus
Letter from Octavius to Candidus mentioning sinew (vital for artillery and bows) and hides. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Writing tablets
Dedicatory plaque of copper alloy recording the dedication of a shield and javelin to Vihansa by the centurion Q. Catius Libo Nepos of lrgio III Cyrenaica. Image: Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Dedication
Stela of P. Marcius Probus, a custos armorum. He is shown wearing a paenula and carrying a staff of office and a book of writing tablets, both perhaps symbolic of his rank. Image: JCNC
Tombstone of Marcius Probus
Inlaid dagger scabbard bearing an inscription recording legio XXII Primigenia found in Mainz. Image: L. Lindeschmit (PD)
Dagger scabbard
Copper-alloy catapult shield found near Cremona with an embossed inscription, recoding the fact that it belonged to legio IIII Mecedonica and the consular date of its manufacture (AD 45). Image: Notizie degli scavi di antichità 1887 (PD)
Ballista shield
Copper-alloy pendant from Nijmegen (NLD) inscribed punctim with the lettering LEG IX HISP. Image: Museum het Valkhof (Public Domain Mark 1.0
Pendant
Handle of a trulla or patera from Lancashire (GBR) with a stamped inscription apparently referring to an ala. Image: The Portable Antiquities Scheme (CC BY 2.0)
Metal Vessel
Inscription C(aius) Antonius fecit (made by Gaius Antonius) inlaid in silver wire on the ferrous hand guard of the Oberammergau (DEU) dagger. As discovered, it is to the rear of the dagger and scabbard, but that is the way the dagger was sheathed when found at Döttenichl.Image Archäologische Staatssammlung München (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) via Bavarikon
Dagger manufacturer's inscripion
Circular copper-alloy shield boss from Zwammerdam with a hemispherical dome. There are punctim ownership inscriptions, including T(urma) VERACIS PUPI, indicating it belonged to a cavalryman. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden
Shield boss
Punctim inscription recording that the shield boss belonged to a member of legio VIII Augusta. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Shield boss
Punctim inscription recording that the shield boss belonged to Junius Dubitatus, in the century of Iulius Magnus. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Ownership inscription
Punctim ownership inscription on a helmet found at Rijswijk (NLD) of two men in the century of Antonius Fronto: T. Allienus Martialis and Statorius Tertius. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0)
Ownership inscription
Copper-alloy ear guard from Ruffenhofen inscribed punctim T(urma) MAT(i) DEC(e)MBRI and AUGUSTANI and P(ubli) RULI (indicating multiple ownership within a cavalry turma. Image: MCB
Helmet ear guard
Detail of a phalera from Xanten mentioning Pliny the Elder as the prefect (PLINIO PREAFECTO) of an unknown cavalry unit. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Inscription
Interior view of a rear copper-alloy saddle horn from Newstead showing two inscriptions, one incised SIINIICIONIS (belonging to Senecio) and punctim XII (12). Image: MCB (CC BY_SA 2.0)
Saddle horn
Underside view of a copper-alloy trulla or patera found in the Maas at Alphen (NLD) with an illegible stamp and a punctim ownership inscription >. C. ANCESTI C.VALERI CRIS LE(?)G XXII. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0)
Metal Vessel
Copper-alloy ownership tag in the form of an ansate panel with punctim inscription > EPOTIS / C.MARCIVS / MATERNI, mentioning C. Marcius Maternus in the century of Epos. Possibly originally attached to a shield. Image: Museum het Valkhof (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Ownership tag
Copper-alloy ownership tag in the form of an ansate panel with punctim inscription LXG / (...) CINNAE/ AMONI/IVLLI identifying it as belonging to Amonius Iullus, in the century of ?Cinna, of the legio X Gemina. Possibly originally attached to a shield. Image: Museum het Valkhof (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Ownership tag