Legion's Standard Group
Representatives of the standard group in the legion during the battle carried important relics and were responsible for their safety. They themselves did not participate in close combat unless absolutely necessary. They can be divided into two subgroups: standard-bearers and musicians. In all legions, they were equipped according to a single standard.
Standard-bearers:
- Aquilifer -the bearer of the eagle. There was one per legion.
- Vexillarius - the bearer of the vexillum (standard).
- Imaginifer - the bearer of the emperor's image.
- Signifer - the bearer of the signum.
Musicians:
- Bucinator - playing the bucina.
- Tubicen - playing the tuba.
- Cornicen - playing the cornu.
Tombstone bas-relief of Lucius Sertorius Firmus, Aquilifer XI of the loyal and loyal Legion of Claudius. Izvestnyak. Inv. no. 28161. Verona, Maffei Lapidarium Museum. 1st century AD
Vexillarii from the Adamclisi relief, early 2nd century AD.
Tombstone of the standard bearer-Signifer Pinatius. Rhenish Museum of Local Lore, Bonn, Germany. 1st century ADEquipment
Equipment The equipment of a legionnaire of the standard group in the 1st-2nd centuries AD could consist of the following elements:
- Predator skin (wolf, bear, lion)
- One of the types of standards: aquila, vexillum, signum, imago. Or one musical instrument: bucina, cornu, tuba
Fabric / Leather products:
Metal protective equipment elements:
Armament:
Additional elements:
It should be noted that musicians were dressed more simply than standard-bearers.
Aquilifer, reconstruction
Vexillarium, reconstructionRelated topics
Aquilifer, Vexillarius, Imaginifer, Signifer, Bucinator, Cornicen, Tubucen
Gallery
Column of Aurelius. Second half of the 2nd century AD.
Column of Aurelius. Second half of the 2nd century AD.
Trajan's Column in Rome. Early 2nd century
Signifiers in lion skins. Trajan's column. First half of the 2nd century AD
Trajan's column. In the background, flag bearers in skins and segmentata. Early 2nd century AD
Trajan's column. In the background, flag bearers in skins and segmentata. Early 2nd century AD
Fragment of a bas-relief with a standard-bearer in the skin of a lion. Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 1-2 century AD
Roman standard bearer. Find from Lebanon. Dimensions Height: 17.6 cm, width: 5.9 cm, depth: 1.2 cm. Weight: 67.8 g. Material-ivory. 2nd century AD 
Roman standard bearer. Find from Lebanon. Dimensions Height: 17.6 cm, width: 5.9 cm, depth: 1.2 cm. Weight: 67.8 g. Material-ivory. 2nd century AD 
Tombstone stele dedicated to the musician L. Cornelia Sabin and in memory of his many "musical victories". Found embedded in the northeast gate of the Hexamilion wall, Isthmia. Isthmian Archaeological Museum, Greece IΣ 69-1. Mid-2nd century AD 
