Life in the Roman world of Nero and StPaul . 7 \^^ i 1:. \.- Fig. 100.—Centurion. be decapitated or beaten to death with cudgels. If awhole company or regiment gets into disgrace, it mayhave to put up with barley instead of wheat for itsrations, and if it is guilty of gross insubordination, orof some crime which cannot be sheeted home to tjlieindividual, it may be decimated, or, in otherwords, every tenth man, drawn by lot, may be con- THE ARMY 347 demned to death. The last, of course, is an extrememeasure, and is only mentioned here as belonging toextreme cases. On the other hand, if Seius is
Life in the Roman world of Nero and StPaul . 7 \^^ i 1:. \.- Fig. 100.—Centurion. be decapitated or beaten to death with cudgels. If awhole company or regiment gets into disgrace, it mayhave to put up with barley instead of wheat for itsrations, and if it is guilty of gross insubordination, orof some crime which cannot be sheeted home to tjlieindividual, it may be decimated, or, in otherwords, every tenth man, drawn by lot, may be con- THE ARMY 347 demned to death. The last, of course, is an extrememeasure, and is only mentioned here as belonging toextreme cases. On the other hand, if Seius is a smart soldier hewill gradually gain recognition as such. He may. Fig. 101. — Standard Bearer. become the head man in his mess of ten ; or be madean orderly, to carry the watchword round to themesses; or he may be chosen b} the centurion as hissubaltern. As he gains maturity and steadiness, andwins confidence, he may be elected to bear thestandard of his company, in which case a bears skinwill be thrown over his shoulders, and the top of his 348 LIFE IN THE ROMAN WORLD chap. helmet will be concealed beneath the head of thatbeast, worn as a hood. Being a saving man, andtaking a pride in himself, he will gradually decoratehis sword-belt and girdle, and perhaps his scabbard,with silver knobs and ornaments. Also behavingwell in the victorious brushes with the Britons, he willacquire, besides occasional loot and booty-money, anumber of metal medalhons or disks, to be strungacross his breast somewhat after the manner of themodern war-medals. Gradually, as he becomes aveteran, he may rise to be centurion, when he willwear a crest upon his helmet and grea
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