| Question Home |
Position:Home>History> What was the tattoo that Roman Legionnaires had on their arms?Question: What was the tattoo that Roman Legionnaires had on their arms!? I was watching Gladiator the other day and remembered that as a sign of loyalty Roman legionnaires would tattoo their arm!. From what I remember it had something to do with their legion(as in the designation of their legion), but I've never come across any pics or reproductions in art!. Does anyone know what was tattooed or have any references to it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The tattoo that the Roman Legionnaires had on their arms was SPQR standing for Senatus Populus Quel Romanum!. also beneath SPQR they would usually have the number of their Legion!. For Example Legio IV!. It was basically a tattoo signifying that he was in the Roman Imperial Legion and that he was particularly in that legion!. Though there were also found some modifications in those tattoos as some of them even would have the Senate Eagle symbol including above or beneath the inscriptions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com The Latin for tattoo is stigma – a word that, in English, means a mark of disgrace!. There are records that Greeks and Romans used tattoos as punishment to mark an offender, gladiator or a slave – Christianity's arrival in Rome coincides with the reduction of tattoos as punishment!. As a sidenote, in 787 AD tattooing was banned by the Pope!. However it seems that in the 4th century (near the end of the Empire) legionaries and some auxiliaries stationed on Hadrian's Wall were tattooed on the hand, the Roman medic Aetius describes the recipe, precisely what was tattooed is unknown probably some reference to their unit or their homeland (legionaries of this period were not actually Roman)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Never heard of Roman Legionnaries wearing tattoos - in fact I find it almost impossible to believe, since the Romans would have thought of tatoos as barbarian - the sort of thing we Celts had then and now and not associated with civilization in the Roman way!. ROMA SPQR http://br!.youtube!.com/watch!?v=wue_e1HSp5!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I think it's SPQR!. That was the sign of the Roman govt!. It was printed on coins, etc!. It was branded on soldiers arms showing that they were part of Rome's official military forces!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Agree w Clive!. It is nonsense!. Maybe adapted from memories of the SS!. Don't take your history from Hollywood!.Www@QuestionHome@Com MAXIMUS!Www@QuestionHome@Com |