. The life of the Greeks and Romans. a,oafifivKif) was constructed to open the way to the top of the enemysfortifications. About the way of moving the towers nothing appearsin ancient writers. To cross unfordable rivers light boats were used, consisting ofwooden frames, timbered on the spot, the sides consisting of hidesand osiers. In imperial times each legion carried ready-madepontoons with it. The bridges made of these boats were con- THE ALLOCUTIO. 583 structed by first placing the pontoons in their right position,which was done by means of light skiffs. They were anchoredby means of pyram
. The life of the Greeks and Romans. a,oafifivKif) was constructed to open the way to the top of the enemysfortifications. About the way of moving the towers nothing appearsin ancient writers. To cross unfordable rivers light boats were used, consisting ofwooden frames, timbered on the spot, the sides consisting of hidesand osiers. In imperial times each legion carried ready-madepontoons with it. The bridges made of these boats were con- THE ALLOCUTIO. 583 structed by first placing the pontoons in their right position,which was done by means of light skiffs. They were anchoredby means of pyramidally shaped baskets filled with with boards laid across them connected the boats witheach other; wooden rails added to the firmness of the structure,and prevented accidents through falling over the edge of thebridge. Sometimes walking-towers were placed on one end ofthe bridge to protect it against the enemy. Fig. 529 illustratesthe crossing of the Danube by the Roman army on a bridgeconstructed by the Emperor Fig. 529. We add a representation of an allocutio, or speech of thegeneral to his army (Fig. 530), a subject frequently treated oncoins, and occurring on the columns of Trajan and by his officers, standard-bearers, &c, the emperorused to address the army from a raised standpoint, praising,blaming, or encouraging to new deeds of valour, according tocircumstances; from here he pronounced the punishment ofcowardice, which was at once executed by his lictors * ; from here *• We add a few remarks about the fasces, seen in the hands of the lictors, (compare Fig. 540). The fasces were bundles of rods (virgm) of elm or birch-wood, tied together round the handle of an axe (securis) with (most likely red)straps. The iron of the axe, which was the executioners tool, protiuded from thesticks. The fasces were carried on their left shoulders by the lictors, who walkedin front of certain magistrates, making room for them, and compel
Size: 2334px × 1071px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisherlondonchapmanandha
