Furca
Furka (Lat. furca) - a wooden crosshair used by Roman legionnaires to carry their belongings on long military campaigns. Probably,for greater strength of the structure,two sticks were made depressions in the place of their connection,and then tied together. Perhaps a pilum was also attached to the long part of the furka Pilum.
Legionnaires with furs. Trajan's column. Early 2nd century AD
The furka served as a lever method of carrying a legionnaire's personal equipment,in a sense replacing hiking packs. Flasks,a loculus,a thing-bags and other camping equipment could be fixed on it ampulla Loculus cassidile.
Example of an assembled four-way card
Function
The furca (Latin furca) is a fork, yoke, or wooden carrying element whose name in a military context is often connected with marching equipment. Such a pole or forked staff helped distribute the load and carry a bag, cooking vessel, cloak, small tools, and other items outside battle formation.
Practical Use
For a legionary, such a system mattered because part of the personal kit was carried by the soldier himself. The load had to be removable before formation and should not interfere with marching in column. A reconstruction of the furca therefore needs to account not only for appearance but also balance, knots, shaft length, and compatibility with the rest of the marching kit.
Literature
- M. C. Bishop, J. C. N. Coulston, Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome.
- Graham Sumner, Roman Military Dress.
- Peter Connolly, Greece and Rome at War.
Related topics
Ancient military campaigns,Legionary,Flask,Cassidil,Loculus
Literature
Le Boec Ya. Roman Army of the Early Empire era. Translated from French by ROSSPEN,2001,399 p. (in Russian)
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