WARFARE OF ANTIQUITY. 17 



The field-music of the Romans was designed principally for giving the 

 requisite signals in time of action. For this were employed the tuba or 

 trumpet ; huccina, the bugle-horn ; and cornu, the common horn. Of the 

 tuba there were six different kinds, part of metal and part of reed ; tliey 

 were perfectly straight, and grew larger towards the lower orifice, which 

 was often in the shape of a lion's head or dragon's jaws. 



PL 7,fg. 8, shows a Roman trumpeter (tubicen) as he went into battle ; 

 like the standard-bearer, he wore usually, instead of helmet, the head skin 

 of a lion or tiger. The buccina was also of metal, and was bent into the 

 circular form ; Jig. 9 shows a horn-blower {buccinator or cornicen) equip- 

 ped for battle. The horn, cornu, was a common ox-horn, usually silver- 

 mounted. The army knew by the note of the horn whether it was to halt, 

 advance, or retreat. Besides these musicians, however, the army had 

 also shalm and cithern players. When the standards were to advance 

 the signal was sounded with the horns, otherwise with the tuba only ; but 

 the chief signal was given with the buccina, by order of the imperator, 

 beside the praetorium ; thus also was proclaimed the completion of^ an 

 execution. 



The legionary cavalry was raised from that part of the equestrian order 

 (the equites) who were assessed at 10,000 asses ($1000), which was increased 

 afterwards to 400,000 sestertii (S20,000). They received their horses from 

 the state. Towards the close of the republic the equites freed themselves 

 from the service, and the cavalry then consisted principally of foreigners. 

 {PL 8, jig. 8, a decurion of cavalry ; jig. 9, a cavalry soldier ; and jig. 7, 

 two standard-bearers of cavalry. The cavalry of a legion amounted 

 usually to 300 men, or one horseman to ten foot soldiers, yet that pro- 

 portion was now and then violated, particularly in later times ; in the con- 

 federate legion the cavalry was double this strength. The 300 cavalry 

 were divided by the tribunes, according to the number of maniples com- 

 posing the legion, into 30 decuries, or, according to the number of cohorts, 

 into 10 turmce, so that a turma contained 30 men. Each turma had three 

 decurii, of whom the first led the turma. The turma had besides three 

 uragi, who closed the files, and an ensign. At the time of Vegetius the 

 turma was twice as strong ; it was arranged in three and also in six ranks. 



The dress of the Roman soldier consisted of a robe reaching to the knee, 

 under which he wore the tunic ; around it was girt the sword-belt. The 

 breeches, where any were worn, were of leather, and reached to the calf. 

 On the feet he wore half-boots or sandals. The hair was cut short. In 

 winter the soldier wore also a cloak with a hood, with which he could 

 protect the neck and head. 



The arms were either offensive or defensive. The light-armed troops 

 were at first the ferentarii, rorarii, and accensi, but in the year 542 a. u. c, 

 the velites {pL 7, fig. 12) were instituted. The arms of the velites were, 1, 

 a short sword {pL 3, jig. 49) ; it was pointed and very sharp, designed for 

 cut or thrust : 2, seven small javelins, of which the staff was an inch thick 

 and four feet long ; the iron head, nine inches in length, was very slender, 

 and bent with the first throw, so that the enemy could not send it back : 



493 



