Pilum: the army’s standard javelin, with a wooden stock and a long, heavy lead point.
Praetor: a title granted to the commander of an army. cf the Praetorian Cohort.
Praetorian Cohort: personal bodyguard of a General.
Primus Pilus: The chief centurion of a legion. Essentially the second in command of a legion.
Pugio: the standard broad bladed dagger of the Roman military.
Scorpion, Ballista amp; Onager: Siege engines. The Scorpion was a large crossbow on a stand, the Ballista a giant missile throwing crossbow, and the Onager a stone hurling catapult.
Signifer: A century’s standard bearer, also responsible for dealing with pay, burial club and much of a unit’s bureaucracy.
Subura: a lower-class area of ancient Rome, close to the forum, that was home to the red-light district’.
Testudo: Lit- Tortoise. Military formation in which a century of men closes up in a rectangle and creates four walls and a roof for the unit with their shields.
Triclinium: The dining room of a roman house or villa
Trierarch: Commander of a Trireme or other Roman military ship.
Turma: A small detachment of a cavalry ala consisting of 32 men led by a decurion.
Vexillum (Pl. Vexilli): The standard or flag of a legion.
Vineae: moveable wattle and leather wheeled shelters that covered siege works and attacking soldiers from enemy fire.
