signifer
Sign in to savethumb|right|Gravestone for the signifer Oclatius. thumb|right|Relief in the Arch of Constantine depicting several signiferes A signifer () was a standard bearer of the Roman legions. He carried a signum (standard) for a cohort or century. Each century had a signifer so there were 60 in a legion. Within each cohort, the first century's signifer would be the senior one. The -fer in signifer comes from ferre, the Latin for 'to bear' or 'to carry'.
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Standard-bearer
- Uniform
- Treasurer
- Roman Republic and Roman Empire
- See also
- References
- Sources
thumb|right|Gravestone for the signifer Oclatius. thumb|right|Relief in the Arch of Constantine depicting several signiferes A signifer () was a standard bearer of the Roman legions. He carried a signum (standard) for a cohort or century. Each century had a signifer so there were 60 in a legion. Within each cohort, the first century's signifer would be the senior one. The -fer in signifer comes from ferre, the Latin for 'to bear' or 'to carry'.
==Standard-bearer== The standard had a number of phalarae (disks or medallions) along with a number of other elements mounted on a pole. The pole could be topped with a leaf-shaped spear head or a manus (open human hand) image denoting the oath of loyalty taken by the soldiers. It sometimes included a representation of a wreath, probably denoting an honour or award.