07-03-2014, 11:43 AM
Quote:Mark Hygate post=356851 Wrote:Like the signum indicates where the century is to those much further away - who really need to have some idea of how the battle is going if they are intending to perform any of the tactical moves we ascribe to the Romans; the centurions crest is to help other people identify him - not his own men. The men of a centurion's century, his maniple and his 'cohort' will all know exactly who he is - and be able to identify his voice. Unless he has been called away, he will never be more than 10 (short) paces away.Mark, I beg of you, read Vegetius 2.13, 2.22 and 3.5 on the function of standards and the centurion's crest, and the communication of orders in the hubbub of battle.
I have read them - and I could, if I was really naughty, merely suggest that Vegetius has simply read the same things we can and drawn the same conclusions; but it doesn't mean they are the only one.
Yes, knowing where your centurion is, is very important - because you need to follow his instructions. But is all the 'bling' just there to show 'who' he is, or is it there to show 'what' he is? Most 'bling' throughout history has been for the latter - so that people can first see 'what' and then work out 'who'.
Equally, if you want to know what the disposition of your army is and the standards might indicate that - then you do indeed need those men that the standard represents at a distance to be there - and thus you do everything you can to ensure that (and that they also stay cohesive). I myself am particularly minded to note Caesar GW 2.25.
The symptom is not the cause.
Horns are noisy things too - so their use would be reserved so not as to confuse - and to attract more global attention. The number of sounds used would be very limited indeed. The centurions voice (his voice and not another's) can certainly carry as far as it needs to - so why use anything else?
