Inside the Legion: Life in the Roman Army exhibition at the British Museum

We take a sneak peek inside the British Museum’s incredible new exhibition that reveals what life was really like for those in the Roman army.

Transcript

00:00 Legion, Life in the Roman Army is an exhibition running from February 1st until the 23rd of

00:09 June at the British Museum, and we headed down for a sneak peek at what those visiting

00:15 this iconic landmark will get to see.

00:18 Life in the Roman Army revealed many interesting facts about how Roman soldiers lived, including

00:24 how those in the army were ranked, what they were paid and the ancient weaponry used, and

00:30 gives an insight into what life was really like for fighters during the Roman Empire.

00:36 In particular, this exhibition follows the life of a soldier who rises through the ranks

00:41 all the way through to retiring, explaining in detail the trials and tribulations of soldiers

00:48 fighting thousands of years ago for the Roman Empire.

00:52 Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are met by statues and a map that details just

00:57 how expansive the Roman Empire was.

01:01 Then the journey following the life of a soldier begins.

01:04 Terentianus, who served under multiple emperors, particularly paints a portrait of everyday

01:10 life in the Roman Army, writing home for supplies, clothes, weapons, as well as telling his relatives

01:18 about getting food poisoning, helping put down a revolt, travelling around the world,

01:23 fighting in Syria and even getting married.

01:27 And he was one of the lucky ones to make it out alive.

01:31 But not everyone was so lucky, and those who were a little shorter, like myself, times

01:37 would have been even tougher in the Roman Army.

01:39 Well actually, we wouldn't be in the army at all.

01:42 Among many stories told at this exhibition, one was that a man under 5 foot 7 would not

01:48 usually be accepted as a soldier.

01:50 Well let's hope those traditions stay if conscription really is happening.

01:55 Legion, Life in the Roman Army is on from February 1st up until the 23rd of June at

02:01 the British Museum.

02:02 For more on this, head to Londonworld.com