ROME"S LEGIONS
For those interested in (or confused about) Roman legions, here are a few definitions, and a little about each legion active during the period of this story.
A Roman Legion was made up of about 5,500 men. The core unit of a legion is the century. Originally a century, as its name suggests, was made up of 100 men. But by the late Republic and early Empire it was actually 80 soldiers and their support staff.
Eighty men make a CENTURY. Six centuries make a COHORT. Ten cohorts make a LEGION, with the lead cohort being double-sized. That"s 5,280 men. Add 120 cavalry men and around 100 noncombatants – engineers, cooks, etc. – and you reach 5,500.
Each legion had a golden eagle, the aquila, carried by the aquilifer. They also had a flag with their symbol on it. The flag was cal
