15
15
HOC MENSE ROMAE MAR-MAY
SPRING IS IN THE AIR ( AND SO IS WAR )
An Overview of Roman Battle Tactics
In Classical times , as spring approached , Roman armies were prepped and mobilized for a busy , violent summer ahead , and this a time of year was aptly named in tribute to the god of war , Mars . On the smallest scale , the organization of the Roman army provided efficient methods of ranking , communicating , and fighting . An army was composed of twelve legions , which were composed of ten cohorts each , which were made of ten centuries each , which were made of ten conterbiniums each . Even within these groups , there were more subdivisions of power among the soldiers so everyone knew their role and also who was in charge .
Keeping with the organization theme , the Romans had very strict battle formations . Typically , the velites , the most inexperienced soldiers went first . Then , the other infantry soldiers , who were more heavily armed , could follow in any number of rows . The most common was the triplex acies , which was composed of three rows of infantry . However , depending on the situation , there could be one , two , or fours rows as needed . Soldiers were arranged in a chess-like formation so that each soldier had room .
APR
OTHER EVENTS :
25
Robigalia
During Robigalia , a rust colored dog was sacrificed in hopes of preventing grain rust , a disease , from affecting crops . April 25th was the day crops were most vulnerable to rust .
MAR
19
MAY
29
Quinquatra
Quinquatra was a five day festival dedicated to both Minerva and Mars . On the last day of the festival , March 23rd , the trumpets of Mars were purified .
Ambarvalia
Ambarvalia consisted of several sacrifices to a wide array of cultural deities to purify crops .