Garam Éva szerk.: Between East and West - History of the peoples living in hungarian lands (Guide to the Archaeological Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum; Budapest, 2005)

HALL 6 - The Roman Age (6 A.D.-420 A.D.) (László Kocsis, Endre Tóth)

parade helmets from the 2nd century, which had originally been fitted with a face mask for additional protection (Case 1). A helmet of this type was found at Visegrád. These types of helmets were usually worn during mounted war games, military parades, triumphal processions and during festivities marking imperial anniversaries. The almond shaped lead bullets indicate the presence of Roman si inger units. The metal sheath and the dagger dating from the 1st century, the shield boss with its elaborate inlaid and engraved decoration from the 2nd century, the spatha, the long sword bearing an inlaid figure of Victoria from the 3rd century are eloquent testimonies to the sophistication of Roman metalwork. The socalled Intercisa type iron helmets, which are exhibited here for the first time together with their reconstruction, were typical for the late Roman period (Case 2). The advances made in warfare during the late Roman period are illustrated by the ptumbata, a kind of lead weighted dart used chiefly by cavalry units against enemy infantry troops. The missiles rained on the enemy fighting under the cover of their shields from above. The military musical instruments, chiefly horns and whistles, were used for giving signals during festivities and in battle (Case 4). The tuba, the long trumpet from Zsámbék and its reconstruction made using the original Roman technique, evokes the calls given by this signal instrument (Fig. 67). It has been suggested that there were three basic battle signals: (a) a call ending on raised, high notes ordering battle formation, (b) repeated staccato calls ordering a charge into battle, and (c) a call descending into low notes ordering retreat. The tubicen conveyed commands on his long trumpet, the cornicen blew a large curved comet, while the bucinator used his instrument, a horn resembling a trombone, not in battle, but in camp for giving signals to change the watches and for calling to meals. The army had other tasks beside the protection of the empire's frontiers. One of the most important among these was participation in construction work, especially in projects which had a direct bearing on the army's life. These included the building and maintenance of the imperial road network in the province. On the testimony of the plaque set above the gate on the model of the Intercisa fort, a certain Hilarus can be credited with its construction (Case 3). The bronze plumb bobs bearing the figure of the goddess Minerva were used to measure the verticality of walls and corners. The bronze groma from Aquincum and the ruler was another vital instrument. The limes road along the frontier connected the military installations between Augusta Vindelicorum/Augsburg and the Danube mouth. The limes road eased communication between the forts and the different army units, as well as the conveyance of signals using the chain of watchtowers. The emperor's decrees and the governors' reports were forwarded on the well-built roads leading to the province's interior and Italy. Communication was quick and reliable through the postal service (cursus publicus) founded by the Emperor Augustus and the chain of relay stations where messengers could change horses. A messenger from Rome made the journey to Camuntum in eleven days, travelling an average 110 km a day. The milestones along the roads indicated not only the distances between particular points, but also proclaimed the glory of the emperor who had constructed or repaired the road. The construction work carried out by the Roman army is evoked by bronze and clay gate models and the instruments they used (compasses, plumb-line, various tools). In addition to building roads and forts, the military also participated in public construction work. The army had its own brickyards and brick kilns, which produced bricks and roof tiles. Fired bricks, first used by the Romans, soon became a routine construction material. Many military units began to stamp the bricks produced in their workshops with their name, a practice begun under Emperor Claudius' reign. The stamps provide a wealth of information about where a particular unit