05-02-2008, 02:22 AM
There is no reason why all Roman soldiers would have well developed muscles. As someone else has pointed out a soldier could equally spend all his service life as a clerk or accountant. Whatever his service role an arrogant attitude towards non military personnel might be evident.
Some accounts even state that there were soldiers in the east who had not even carried out sentry duty but were content to laze about in the taverns!
There is plenty of evidence that soldiers and veterans alike treated civilians with contempt. One humorous example is a warning to pedestrians to beware their feet being stamped on by soldiers boots!
Off hand I do not know of references to Veterans still wearing military garb which was clearly distinct from civil clothing. But an ex soldier might possibly still wear some of his military awards.
Graham.
Some accounts even state that there were soldiers in the east who had not even carried out sentry duty but were content to laze about in the taverns!
There is plenty of evidence that soldiers and veterans alike treated civilians with contempt. One humorous example is a warning to pedestrians to beware their feet being stamped on by soldiers boots!
Off hand I do not know of references to Veterans still wearing military garb which was clearly distinct from civil clothing. But an ex soldier might possibly still wear some of his military awards.
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
