Signaculum

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

In Adrian Goldsworthy's book "The Complete Roman Army" it states that the Roman soldier carried a form of identification with him at all times called a signaculum, it was made of lead and was kept in a small leather pouch. I suppose it was like an ancient form of the modern day dog tags worn by the soldiers of today.

 

Does anyone have anymore info on these, any pictures or links that could shed a bit more light on the subject?

 

Thanks

[Nephele]

Here's something relating to the signaculum that you may find interesting, and how this object was considered an "idolatrous object" by at least one Christian serving in the emperor's army.

 

This is an excerpt from an article titled, "Christians and the Roman Army A.D. 173-337", by John Helgeland (professor in St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota). The article was published in 1974 in the quarterly American journal Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture:

 

The only known Christian draftee, Maximilian, died March 12, 295 in Thevaste in Mauretania Caesariensis. His father, a temonarius, by virtue of that office was required to find recruits for the army and, if not, to bring his own sons. Maximilian refused to serve because he was a Christian and objected particularly to wearing the lead seal (signaculum) of the soldier. Since Diocletian and the other members of the tetrarchy had claimed to be earthly representatives of Hercules and Jupiter and since their likenesses were struck on the seal, Maximilian thereby regarded it as an idolatrous object. Cassius Dio, a proconsul before whom the trial was held, attempted to persuade him to reconsider on the ground that there were Christians who served in the mobile forces under the emperor's personal command (in sacro comitatu). In its implications, Dio's statement is significant because it shows that there were a number of Christians in the emperor's army, that they were known as such, and that (at that time) they did not suffer on that account. Maximilian was not impressed; he died because he, with an impious mind (indevoto animo), had committed the crime of contumacia.

 

-- Nephele

[Lost_Warrior]

These are briefly mentioned in the Eagle series-Cato wears one around his neck which signifies his name and rank. Other than that, I don't know. I'll have to look through my books upstairs.

[Julius Ratus]

On a similar line, I read that the Spartans carried halves of broken sticks with them. If they were beyond recognition (FUBAR) after the battle, the sticks would be matched up to the other half back at camp and you would then know who was who. They used sticks because they were worthless and so looters wouldn't run off with them.

 

While this has seemingly no relevence to what you asked, it does show that the idea of identification markers was in existence in the ancient world.