A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Full citizenship
again.
The Rostra
were consecrated,
hence
a temple; the
word means
"beaks."
374 Roman Organization
Campanians, in compliment to their horsemen, because
they had refused to join in rebellion with the Latins, and
to the Fundans and Formians, because the passage through
their territories had always been secure and peaceful, the
freedom of the state was granted with the right of suffrage.
It was determined that the people of Cumas and
Suessula should have the same rights and be on the same
footing as Capua. Of the ships of the Antians some were
drawn up to the docks at Rome, some were burned, and
with the prows of these the speakers' stand in the Forum
was ordered to be decorated: and that temple was called
Rostra.
II.
The Reformed Army
Changes in
armor, arms
and organization.
Livy viii. 8.
A ncienl
World, 365.
The target
was round;
the shield
oblong.
In action.
The Romans formerly used targets; afterward when
they began to receive pay, they made shields instead of
targets; and what before constituted phalanxes similar to
the Macedonian, afterward became a line drawn up in
distinct companies. At length they were divided into
several centuries. A century contained sixty soldiers, two
centurions, and one standard-bearer. The spearmen
(hastati) formed the first line in fifteen companies, with
small intervals between them; a company had twenty
light-armed soldiers, the rest wearing shields; those were
called light who carried only a spear and short iron javelins.
This division, which constituted the van in the field
of battle, contained the youth in early bloom advancing
toward the age of service. Next followed men of more
robust age, in the same number of companies, who were
called principes, all wearing shields, and distinguished by
the completest armor. (Behind them came the triarii.) . . .
When the army was marshalled according to this arrangement,
the spearmen first commenced the fight. If