Weaponry




 * __Weapons__:**

The main weapons in the Roman army where the sword and the pilum. There were two types of swords. The legionaries used the short sword which was used for stabbing and the cavalry used a longer sword for cutting. Both of them had a bone handle which was notched to fit your hand. Two hold the sword they used a leather sheath. This sheath held the sword to their waist. This kept the sword out of the person’s feet which was very helpful in that it was much easier to run. The pilum was a long throwing spear. It consisted of a sharp, leaf-like point that was on a ten inches head and a softer metal shaft. These could hit a person from 90 feet away. The main use for this was to get stuck into the shield and buckle. This would mess up the opponent’s shield so they would have to throw it away. This would make them more vulnerable to enemy attacks.


 * __Armor and Boots__:**

The armor consisted of the lorica, the scutum, the sporran, the cassis, and the caligae. The lorica is the overlapping bands that covered the chest, the back, and the upper arms. The armor was sometimes studded for protection and in the back there were metal strips that moved with soldier making it easier for the soldier to move. All of the armor was worn over a thick leather jacket. The scutum was a large rectangular shield (4 feet long by 3 feet wide) that was curved. The majority of it was made of strips of wood that were glued together by boiled cattle skins but in the middle there was a metal plate that protected the person from arrows and spears. There were also many designs like the one on **Figure 1**. During battle it was worn on the left arm and while marching it was worn on a strap on the left shoulder. The sporran was a piece of protection that hung down and protected the front and when it was cold they wore tight trousers. The cassis is the helmet worn by the soldier. It had two cheek pieces and a curved plate that protected the back of the soldier’s neck. It was also lined with fur and cloth to make the helmet more comfortable. The Caligae were the boots that were worn by the soldier. They look like a high-top (the part of the sandal on the ankle is taller) version of the thong sandals worn today. They also have a two centimeter flat heel. There were nails on the bottom that made the shoe last longer. The nails only lasted about 10 days and had to be checked and replaced nightly. The soldiers had to pay for the nails themselves with what they called Clavarium or “nail money.”


 * __Siege Weapons and Artillery__:**

During the battles the Roman Army would use weapons such as the siege tower, the carroballistae, and the onager. The siege tower was a gigantic tower consisting of three stories. They would roll this up to the walls of the city on logs and then the soldiers would walk across a plank onto the wall. This was soak hides and cover the tower.The carroballistae (Shown in **Figure 2**) was basically larger form of the crossbow. It fired 3 foot bolts 300-550 much more efficient than the ladder because the ladder provided no protection and could be tipped over killing men. To protect the tower from fire they wouldyards and up to 115 miles per hour! It was so big and powerful it had to be on a stand. The onager was the Roman version of a catapult. It could fire up to 150 lb. stones, fiery pitch (a substance extracted from tar), or smaller stones. Although its range was shorter than the carroballistae’s, it was still very affective. Maybe that is why carroballistae is translated into wild @$#. **__Sites__**
 * 1) BBC, "Education Scottland." __BBC__. 3 Dec. 2008. BBC. 3 Dec 2008 <__ http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/sysm/romans/index_choi __ __c__e. sht ml >.


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 * 1) Not Stated, "Roman Artillery." __UNRV History__. Not Stated. UNRV History. 3 Dec. 2008. .


 * 1) Forman, J. (1975). The Romans. Morristown, New Jersey. Silver Burdett Company.


 * 1) unknown, "War Machines: The Artillery." __The Roman Heritage in Aragon__. 2006. 5 Dec 2008 .