. The grandeur that was Rome; a survey of Roman culture and civilisation:. unit, and ten cohorts formed the legion. Beside the body-armour consisting of helmet, cuirass, andcylindrical shield,* the uniform equipment of the legionaryincluded the pilum,ta short heavy javelin for throwing (itis interesting to notice that whereas Marius had the pointloosely attached to the shaft so as to break off in the shieldor body of the enemy, Julius Caesar actually invented whatmay fairly be called a Dum-Dum pilum with a soft nosefor stopping the rush of barbarians), and the short broad-bladed sword X which
. The grandeur that was Rome; a survey of Roman culture and civilisation:. unit, and ten cohorts formed the legion. Beside the body-armour consisting of helmet, cuirass, andcylindrical shield,* the uniform equipment of the legionaryincluded the pilum,ta short heavy javelin for throwing (itis interesting to notice that whereas Marius had the pointloosely attached to the shaft so as to break off in the shieldor body of the enemy, Julius Caesar actually invented whatmay fairly be called a Dum-Dum pilum with a soft nosefor stopping the rush of barbarians), and the short broad-bladed sword X which had been copied from the Spanishswordsmen in the Second Punic War. The latter was a veryhandy little weapon only about thirty inches long includingthe hilt, with two edges as well as a point, though the thrustwas always advocated in preference to the cut. Marius nowintroduced a new drill which included lessons in fencing givenin the first instance by masters from the gladiatorial schools. • Plate 12. t The pilum also is now said to be of Spanish origin. X Plate Plate 13. SCABBARD OF LEGIONARY SWORD(See p. 98) IP- LAST CENTURY OF THE REPUBLIC Though bloodshed be abhorrent to the learned, many a scholarwould like to have witnessed the combat between the Romangladius and the Cimbrian claymore. It must be repeatedthat the Roman maniple, unlike the close Greek phalanx,stood in open order with a six-foot square of space for eachman so that there was room for individual prowess in swords-manship. Lastly, Marius still further professionalised hisarmy by introducing a system of bounties on discharge which-made the army a really attractive career for poor citizens. 1He promised them each a farm at the end of the war andhis example was followed by other generals. In fact aveteran soldier came to expect a handsome pension onretirement. It is surely unnecessary to emphasise the meaning of allthis. An army was now a trained corps against which nolevy of recruits could stand for an i
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