Propylaeum

The Roman army had a complex system of signalling that used acoustic and visual aids - wind instruments and field signs - to communicate orders quickly. The standards used for this purpose, the signa militaria, were not only objects of daily use, but also important symbols of Roman military power and important symbols of identification for the soldiers united under them. The loss of such an emblem was considered a great shame not only by the soldiers but by all Romans.
In this volume, the standards of the Roman army are intensively analysed on the basis of an extensive and richly illustrated collection of material, including numerous ancient depictions, inscriptions and fragments of original field insignia. The focus is on their appearance, use and religious status. In addition, the depictions of standards in Roman art will be examined for their attention to detail and their semantic meaning. The result is a multi-layered picture of Roman field insignia, which were more than simple aids to orientation on the battlefield, and not only in the eyes of the soldiers.