ABDY, RICHARD
The Roman army has been immortalised in heroic art and screen epics, but what was life really like for an ordinary soldier? Everything the best history books can be: erudite, entertaining and eloquent. Terry Deary, author of Horrible Histories Splendidly direct, clear and jargon free You are unlikely to find a clearer or more comprehensive account Classics for All This book tells the story of everyday life in the army including the experiences of women and enslaved people through a range of rare objects and testimonies. These include letters from Apion and Terentianus, young Egyptian soldiers writing home to their families; the tombstone of 4-year-old Vacia, a touching reminder of the presence of children near forts; the remains of a soldier found at Herculaneum, killed in the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79; and a board game played by soldiers in their spare time. Human experiences are set within the context of the first three centuries of the common era, widely recognised as the Roman armys heyday. During this period, forces were split into legions of citizen-only troops and auxiliary units
