signifer
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A signifer was a standard bearer of the Roman legions. He carried a signum (standard) for a cohort or century. The signum he carried was the military emblem of that unit. It was composed of a number of philarae (disks), along with a number of other elements mounted on a pole, topped with a leaf-shaped spear head or a manus (human hand) image. It sometimes included a representation of a wreath, probably denoting an honor or award.
In the Roman Republic the term signifer probably applied to all standard bearers, but in the Empire the signifer was just one of a number of types of signiferi, which also included aquilifers, imaginifers, duplicarii, vexillarii and draconarii.
See Also
- Aquilifer
- Imaginifer
- Vexillarius
- Draconarius
- Guide-on
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