9o. The legion, which had now become a compact mass, was furnished with a common ensign. There had been separate standards (signa) for the maniples before, but the silver eagle which we read of in the ranks of Catiline (Cat. 59. 3) was set up by Marius for the whole legion, and became henceforth the symbol of the soldier's duties, and the object almost of his religious worship. 10o. One point remains which shows his minute attention to details. A great general combines wide-reaching plans with special thought about the particulars of execution; the Roman commander gave his name to a contrivance by which his men might carry their food and clothing with more ease. These were bound in separate bundles which were strapped to thin strips of wood, and carried on the prongs of a long fork. This was then thrown across the shoulders on the march, as we may see pourtrayed at Rome on the bas-reliefs of Trajan's column ('Muli Mariani dici solent a Mario instituti, cujus milites in furca interposita tabella varicosius onera sua portare assueverunt,' Festus). |
