The aquila and other standards that embodied the identity, honour, and cohesion of Roman military units.
Overview
The legionary eagle was carried by the aquilifer and treated as the most important standard of a legion. Other standards identified units, transmitted signals, and served as rallying points in battle.
Why It Matters
The loss of standards was a profound military and political humiliation. Their recovery could be celebrated as a national achievement.
In Roman Practice
Standards were practical instruments, sacred objects, and symbols of collective identity. Soldiers swore loyalty in a world where the legion increasingly became a durable community.