Totems and symbols

[J'lynn Yeates]

On 25 Jun 97 at 14:29, Greg Rose wrote:

> The creation of the eagle-standard for Roman legions is ascribed to Marius
> (not Caesar) in connection with the military reforms initiated to meet
> the threat of the Teutones and Cimbri circa 100 B.C.

not to mention that he was instrumental for fine-tuning the roman
legions into one of the most leathal and successful war-machines of
the time.  a highly mobile war machine with  a "thousand" swords, a
"thousand" shields, two "thousand" legs ... and one mind.  

after his reforms, mostly gone were the cumbersome and vulnerable 
baggage trains that had evolved as the roman army developed from a 
citizens milita into a professional warrior cast.  the legions were 
now fast, mobile, and far harder to kill ... all necessary to cope 
with the "barbarian" incursions that forced the changes. 

these reforms coined a new term "Marius's Mule's" in reference to
fact that the legionary now carried teh majority of their gear 
on their backs (the image that comes down to us ...).  he was also 
responsible for major changes in tactics, formations, and arms & 
armor.  all in all a interesting historical personage.

in past, i've read some interesting archeological articles comparing 
the remains of the roman soldiers before and after this period ... 
those after have skeletal deformities that show a major increase in 
damage caused by a life of extreme physical labor more inline with 
the slave class. 

'wolf