A signifer (Latin:[ˈsɪŋnɪfɛr]) was a standard bearer of the Roman legions. He carried a signum (standard) for a cohort or century. Each century had a signifer so there were 60 in a legion. Within each cohort, the first century's signifer would be the senior one. The -fer in signifer comes from ferre, the Latin for "to bear" or "to carry".
Gravestone for the signifer Oclatius.Relief in the Arch of Constantine depicting several signiferes
It had a number of phalarae (disks or medallions) along with a number of other elements mounted on a pole. The pole could be topped with a leaf-shaped spear head or a manus (open human hand) image denoting the oath of loyalty taken by the soldiers. It sometimes included a representation of a wreath, probably denoting an honour or award.
The task of carrying the signum in battle was dangerous, a soldier had to stand in the first rank and could carry only a small buckler. It was that banner that the men from each individual century would rally around. A soldier could also gain the position of discentes signiferorum, or standard bearer in training. If the signifer was lost in battle, the whole unit was dishonored.
Uniformedit
Although often depicted as such and adopted in modern re-enactments, signifers do not seem to have covered their helmets with wolf furs. Archaeological and literary sources indicate that standard bearers wore mostly bear furs and sometimes lion furs, and wolf skins are never mentioned.[1]
Bankeredit
In addition to carrying the signum, the signifer also assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries' banker. The Signifer was also a Duplicarius, paid twice the basic wage.
Roman Republic and Roman Empireedit
In the Roman Republic, the signifer probably applied to all standard bearers, but in the Roman Empire, the signifer was just one of a number of types of signiferi, which also included aquilifers (responsible for the legion's aquila), imaginifers (who carried an image of the emperor), vexillarii (who carried the Vexillum, a banner representing the legion), and draconarii (who carried the standard of a cavalry unit).
^Mika Rissanen. . Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica. Fabrizio Serra Editore. Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
Sourcesedit
Zehetner, S. 2011: Der Signifer. Stellung und Aufgaben in der Kaiserzeitlichen Armee. VDM Verlag, Saarbrücken.
December 02, 2023
signifer, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2011, lear. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Signifer news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message A signifer Latin ˈsɪŋnɪfɛr was a standard bearer of the Roman legions He carried a signum standard for a cohort or century Each century had a signifer so there were 60 in a legion Within each cohort the first century s signifer would be the senior one The fer in signifer comes from ferre the Latin for to bear or to carry Gravestone for the signifer Oclatius Relief in the Arch of Constantine depicting several signiferes Contents 1 Standard bearer 2 Uniform 3 Banker 4 Roman Republic and Roman Empire 5 See also 6 References 7 SourcesStandard bearer editIt had a number of phalarae disks or medallions along with a number of other elements mounted on a pole The pole could be topped with a leaf shaped spear head or a manus open human hand image denoting the oath of loyalty taken by the soldiers It sometimes included a representation of a wreath probably denoting an honour or award The task of carrying the signum in battle was dangerous a soldier had to stand in the first rank and could carry only a small buckler It was that banner that the men from each individual century would rally around A soldier could also gain the position of discentes signiferorum or standard bearer in training If the signifer was lost in battle the whole unit was dishonored Uniform editAlthough often depicted as such and adopted in modern re enactments signifers do not seem to have covered their helmets with wolf furs Archaeological and literary sources indicate that standard bearers wore mostly bear furs and sometimes lion furs and wolf skins are never mentioned 1 Banker editIn addition to carrying the signum the signifer also assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries banker The Signifer was also a Duplicarius paid twice the basic wage Roman Republic and Roman Empire editIn the Roman Republic the signifer probably applied to all standard bearers but in the Roman Empire the signifer was just one of a number of types of signiferi which also included aquilifers responsible for the legion s aquila imaginifers who carried an image of the emperor vexillarii who carried the Vexillum a banner representing the legion and draconarii who carried the standard of a cavalry unit See also edit nbsp Ancient Rome portalAquilifer Imaginifer VexillariusReferences edit Mika Rissanen Was There a Taboo on Killing Wolves in Rome Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica Fabrizio Serra Editore Archived from the original on 2017 03 12 Retrieved 2016 11 10 Sources editZehetner S 2011 Der Signifer Stellung und Aufgaben in der Kaiserzeitlichen Armee VDM Verlag Saarbrucken Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Signifer amp oldid 1184916011, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
