Clothing:
Roman soldiers' uniforms were made out of practical materials, using lighter cloth such as linen for hot climates and heavier cloth such as wool for colder climates, with the the styles of their clothing changing in order to suit colder climates as well (trousers, or Braccae, a style of pants, made from wool). The basic uniform of the Roman soldier including the tunic or cloaks was either red (dyed with madder) or an undyed material that appeared off-white.
Some components of the uniform include:
Some components of the uniform include:
- Socks (udones)
- Leg wrappings and leg bindings (puttees)
- Military Tunic (Tunica) - short or long-sleeved
- Military belt (cingulum militare)
- Leather Lappets - Apron / Skirt of decorated strips (Pteruges)
- Armor - corselet called the Lorica segmentata
- Armor - helmet (galea)
- Armor - segmented arm protector (manica)
- Cloak (Sagum)
- Hooded Cloak (the paenula)
- Scarf (focale)
- Military sandals or boots (caligae)
Food:
The diet of a Roman soldier consisted mostly of flat bread (bread made without yeast). They also ate porridge and vegetables. They received little wine and got meat so rarely that most of them did not even like to eat it. Each man carried provisions for three days.
Weapons:
The weapons of the Roman Soldiers consisted of a light spear, a javelin over six feet long, and a short cut-and-thrust sword with a double edge. In the time of the empire, when the legion was modified, the infantry carried a sword and dagger. The select infantry were armed with a long spear and a shield. Each man carried a saw, a basket, a mattock, a hatchet, a leather strap, a hook, a chain.