12 exhibition highlights in plain English

The Romans ruled over many lands and peoples.

The Roman army helped to keep control.

Most noble Romans were part-time soldiers.

Non-citizens (people who were not Roman citizens) could become Roman citizens if they joined the army.

The army became a way of making more Roman citizens.

This exhibition explores what life was like for Roman soldiers.

1. Bronze head of emperor Augustus

Augustus was a Roman emperor.

He made changes to the Roman army.

He let people who weren't Roman citizens become soldiers.

This head is from a statue of Augustus.

The statue was put up in Egypt.

It was destroyed by people who didn't like the Romans.

To join the army you had to be at least 172 cm tall.

Boys as young as 13 could join if they were tall enough.

A good reference helped you get in.

Training was hard.

Soldiers often travelled far away from home.

2. Soldier's leather shoe 

This leather sandal belonged to a soldier.

It has metal studs on the soles to grip rough ground.

Soldiers marched long distances.

Sandals wore out quickly from the long marches.

Some soldiers wore socks with their sandals to make them more comfortable.

There were different types of soldiers.

Marines were paid the least. They fought battles at sea. They also built roads and acted as police.

Soldiers who could read and write could get
better jobs.

Standard bearers carried a mascot into battle.

Centurions were in charge of other soldiers.

Cavalry soldiers fought on horseback.

3. Objects buried with a soldier

Centurions were in charge of 80 soldiers.

They earned 15 times more pay than ordinary soldiers.

Centurions could be awarded medals for bravery in battle.

This centurion died before he could receive any medals.

His remains were buried in the lead container with the glass and pottery vessels.

4. Bronze dragon head 

A soldier riding a horse carried this metal dragon head into battle.

It was attached to a pole.

Colourful materials trailed behind.

They made a howling sound in the wind.

The fierce sound probably made some people afraid of Roman soldiers.

Soldiers had to buy their own weapons and armour.

Equipment was expensive.

All soldiers wore a belt.

Their dagger and sword hung from the belt.

Richer soldiers had fancier weapons and armour.

Citizen-soldiers had large rectangular shields and javelins.

Non-citizen soldiers had oval shields and simple spears.

5. Soldier's shield

Many shields were made for Roman soldiers but few survive today.

This shield is very rare.

It is decorated with an eagle, a lion and symbols of victory.

It was held in the centre using a strong, straight handle.

In battle, soldiers locked their shields together to make a wall against enemies.

Soldiers spent more time marching than fighting.

They camped in different places.

Camps were dirty. Soldiers often got sick.

When it came to battle, Roman soldiers were well-organised.

Their shield wall protected them from attacks.

After a battle, Roman soldiers punished their enemies.

They often took gold and prisoners.

6. Tent panels 

Eight soldiers shared a tent.

They paid for it together.

They also cooked and ate together.

This tent is made from goatskin panels.

Goatskin is a good material for a tent because it is waterproof.

When complete it looked like a modern tent.

7. Soldiers in battle formation 

This stone carving shows Roman soldiers in battle.

They are holding up their shields to make a wall to stop the enemy.

Young soldiers had to stand at the front.

Older soldiers stood behind to stop them running away.

8. Terracotta scene showing prisoners 

Romans liked to celebrate their military victories.

Winning battles made rulers popular.

Soldiers could take loot (gold or objects) and prisoners.

This scene shows prisoners in chains on a cart.

The Roman army built bases called forts in the lands they controlled.

In forts, soldiers could relax away from marching, camping and fighting.

They visited the bathhouse and played games.

Sometimes they had families.

Women and children also lived in forts.

9. Gaming board and counters 

Off-duty soldiers played games to relax.

They ate snacks like fish, meat, fruit and olives while they played.

This game board has been scratched into stone.

The counters are glass.

It is set for a game called 'little bandits'.

10. Invitation to a birthday party 

This thin wooden sheet is a letter.

The last part was written in Latin by a woman.

It is the earliest known woman's Latin handwriting.

It is an invitation to a birthday party.

It tells us about life in a fort.

Roman soldiers acted like a police force, keeping the people they controlled in line.

Sometimes soldiers tricked people.

Sometimes soldiers beat or even killed people.

This made some soldiers unpopular.

Sometimes people fought back.

Sometimes even Roman soldiers decided to rebel against their leaders.

11. Soldier's armour 

One soldier in the Roman army decided to rebel.

He fought against the Romans with people from his own tribe.

They killed thousands of Roman soldiers.

A soldier killed in the battle wore this armour.

It has been carefully repaired.

Soldiers could retire after 25 years.

About half of them made it.

The other half died from disease or fighting.

Roman citizens got lots of money when they retired.

Non-citizens became Roman citizens when they retired.

This meant they paid less taxes and had the same rights as Roman citizens.

12. Gold coins

Citizen-soldiers received money when they retired.

They got about 10 years' pay.

These gold coins are worth about 10.5 years' pay.

Soldiers who became Roman citizens didn't get a pay-out.

Sometimes these new Roman citizens had to find a new job.