Legionary soldiers on parade. Note their helmets, breastplates with overlapping metal plates, military boots and breeches, and spears. On the left is an officer with a moulded breastplate and cloak; the standard bearers wear bearskins and each carries the signum or standard decorated with symbols and wreaths.

The above image is a detail from the large base of the now-destroyed Column of Antoninus Pius , Roman emperor 138-161 AD, which stood in Rome.

This intriguing column was located near the imposing Mausoleum of Augustus: to help you locate it, here's a map of Rome (from a website that's worth having a bit of a look at); and in this model the Column of Antoninus Pius is in the lower right corner.

The column's base - the only surviving part of the column - is a major exhibit in the Vatican Museum.

A legionary hands another a rectangle of turf (not stone) for the construction of the fort's ramparts.

In the adjoining section men are levering and hammering wooden planks to make a river bridge between the two forts.

Details from Trajan's Column in Rome. As illustrated on p.82 of CLC BkIII.

Excellent webpage from Channel 4's Time Team detailing the composition of a Roman legion and the day-to-day activities of a Roman soldier.

Extremely detailed pages from roman-britain.co.uk with links to each of the nine British Legions and to a Glossary of military terms.

A history of Roman legions from Republic to fall of Empire.

Definitely check-out these 5 video/audio clips exploring the life and fighting skills of Roman soldiers and their leaders. This link takes you to the main menu; then click "The Relentless Machine". From the HBO/BBC mini-series Rome website.

A fantastic interactive site graphically showing the composition of the Roman army and the equipment they used. A fun and useful historical reference.

Another great-looking, introductory site, graphically illustrating the composition of a Roman legion, showing the different types of soldiers and equipment.

Good for all users, this site has basic information on different types of soldiers and weapons accompanied by great illustrations.

Check out the various pages on the different types of Roman soldiers and the equipment they used. You can also join up with this modern XIIII Legion based near Coventry!

Wikipedia's entry is neatly organised with hyperlinks for further exploration.

One of the most detailed websites available, describing and illustrating in detail the make-up and tactics of the Roman army. Although the site is for advanced centurions with time and patience to read the site thoroughly, the sections on Legion Formation and the Army on the March are interesting and accessible to nearly all.

A discovery from Cumbria, UK, indicates that women may have served as members of the Roman cavalry. (Copy of Times article that is now behind a paywall.)

Everything you want to know...

Everything for today's Roman soldier! Joking aside, this is seriously useful for seeing what Roman soldiers wore.

The Ermine St. Guard are one of several Roman army re-enactment groups in the UK. Check their website to see if they're marching near you, or you'd like to join, or you'd like to see some good images of Roman soldiers.

From the Roman fort site at Hod Hill in Dorset; now in the British Museum.
As illustrated on p.88 of CLC Bk.III where the dagger is pictured in its sheath.

This discovery from near Hadrian's wall is amazing!