The Eagle Uncaged

Felsonius Verus and his unique aquila. Copyright M.C. Bishop

‘Caged Eagles and Vexilla’, Christian Koepfer’s article in the new issue of Ancient Warfare, considers the evidence for Roman standards, including the eagle standard (aquila) carved on the gravestone of Felsonius Verus, aquilifer of legio II Parthica in AD 242/44. Christian writes:

“The eagle is seen from the side in a small aedicula or house, looking forward, wings folded backwards. [This] example has led to a variety of misinterpretations, among them that a live eagle is being displayed. In an article published in 1991, Oliver Stoll proved this eagle was a metal aquila in a special box. The box was used to protect the eagle, while simultaneously keeping it visible when on the march and in winter camp. Such a box is also described by Cassius Dio in his account of Crassus’ campaign against the Parthians” (AW III.6, 10-11).

Professor Stoll recognised that Dio’s digression about ‘a small shrine and in it perches a golden eagle’ (40.18.1) helped to explain the problematical and unique form of the ‘caged’ aquila held by Felsonius Verus. See O. Stoll, ‘Der Adler im “Käfig”: Zu einer Aquilifer-Grabstele aus Apamea in Syrien’, Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 21 (1991), 535-538. The article can also be found in Stoll’s Mavors volume.

The cover illustration of Imperial Roman Legionary shows the aquila of II Parthica as a live eagle in a cage, following the interpretation of Jean Charles Balty and Wilfried Van Rengen, the excavators of Felsonius Verus’ gravestone. In their splendid book, Apamea in Syria: The Winter Quarters of Legio II Parthica (Brussels 1993), p. 12, Balty and Van Rengen describe the eagle as “clearly a live one in a cage, set on top of [Felsonius Verus’] staff, as the unit’s mascot.” Indeed, no other aquila is depicted in any kind of housing and, at first sight, the box with apparent cross-bars housing Verus’ aquila does look like a cage. It therefore formed the basis for the great illustration by the late Angus McBride. However, Oliver Stoll’s explanation of the aquila as a metal eagle in a portable shrine is almost certainly correct.

Happy Christmas!

Mercenaries

Uccello's fresco of John Hawkwood. Copyright Rachie5.

Of all the history books I read in 2009, my favourite was Frances Stonor Saunders’ Hawkwood: Diabolical Englishman (in the US, The Devil’s Broker). A masterful evocation of life, faith, politics and, above all, warfare in fourteenth century Italy, there is much in her account of the extraordinary career of John Hawkwood to interest scholars of earlier Italian history, not least the manipulation of feuding city-states by a ruthless mercenary general, which recalls the machinations and depredations of Dionysius, Agathocles, Cleonymus and Pyrrhus in the fourth and third centuries BC.

See here for a video clip of Frances Stonor Saunders discussing Hawkwood. For mercenary activity in ancient Italy, see chapter V of The Roman Conquests: Italy. Available from Amazon UK, US, Canada, France and Germany.

Igor Dzis

The battle of Cannae. Copyright Igor Dzis. Published in AW III.4

In his review of Ancient Warfare III.5, Jona Lendering describes Igor Dzis’ dramatic painting of the battle of Nisibis as “a work of art.” I am very pleased to report that Igor will be working on another battle scene to accompany my forthcoming article about the Samnite Wars in Ancient Warfare IV.1.

Magnesia. Copyright Igor Dzis.

Prints of Igor’s paintings, and also works by AW regulars Graham Sumner and Johnny Shumate, can be purchased from the Ancient Warfare shop.

Imperial Roman Legionary – Czech edition

Click on cover

Imperial Roman Legionary, AD 161-284 is now available in a Czech translation.

Battle Lines and Formations

‘Changing Formations and Specialists: Aspects of Later Roman Battle Tactics’, my new article in the latest issue of Ancient Warfare, considers three aspects of Roman tactics in the second to fourth centuries AD. First, what is the evidence in this period for the triplex acies, the classic triple battle line? Second, how did Roman light cavalry and clubmen operate against heavy cavalry? Third, what were forfex, orbis and cuneus formations?

If you are curious about the origins and early development of the Roman triplex acies, and the use of manipular tactics by other Italian peoples, please consult The Roman Conquests: Italy. Also available from Amazon UK, US, Canada, France and Germany.

Memoirs of a Super-Tramp

My grandfather, Dermot Leo Curran, is an extraordinary man. In 2006, aged 89, he hitch-hiked across Canada. Here you can read about two of his earlier travel adventures, cycling across France in 1986, and doing the End to End (Land’s End to John O’Groats) by moped in 1987.

Adrian Goldsworthy: How Rome Fell lecture

Adrian Goldsworthy’s recent lecture at Kansas City Public Library, on the fall of the Roman Empire, can be streamed here, or download the MP3 here. It’s a good listen. And if you feel in need of even more ancient history, check out the Ancient Warfare magazine podcasts.

Protecting the Emperor

‘Protecting the Emperor’, my article about the Praetorian Guard, is published in the new issue of Military Illustrated magazine (iss. 259, December 2009).

Walks Along the Walls

Kinneil Fortlet. Copyright Peter McCulloch.

The October issue of Smithsonian Magazine includes a lengthy feature about trekking Hadrian’s Wall (read the article here), but don’t forget about the other great Roman Wall in Britain: the Antonine Wall. Recently designated a World Heritage Site, considerable sections of this great frontier work can still be hiked and explored. See here for the amusing account of the adventures of a Times reporter along the ‘other’ Wall.

For those wishing to learn more about what life was like for the Roman soldiers stationed on the Walls, I recommend Anthony Birley’s Garrison Life at Vindolanda: A Band of Brothers, and Duncan B. Campbell’s Roman Auxiliary Forts, 27 BC – AD 378.

Czech editions of Roman Battle Tactics and Roman Legionary

While googling, I discovered that Roman Battle Tactics and Roman Legionary are available in Czech translations. You’d think that the publishers would tell the author? Don’t be daft!