Representing Other Cultures in Comics & Video Games

The character that i have chosen to research is a Roman Centurion. The Roman Centurion lived in Ancient Roman times and served the Roman Legion. The roman Empire stretched across the entire world and was hundreds of years old. Rome was founded in 27 BC and the Empire lasted until 1453 AD. The time in which Centurions were most likely to be alive would be in 107 BC.

The rank of centurion was considered a great honer and was one of the highest ranks in the Roman legion. It was considered to be a promotion with many prospects and one that would only go to the toughest of soldiers. The highest rank of centurion was "Primus Pilus". This person commanded the 1st century of the 1st cohort. An ordinary centurion was like the rank of captain we now have today, where as the higher ranks were like colonel.

Centurions had to have connections, be literate and educated. Also be at least 30 years old and have served in the Roman military and have letters of recommendation. A Centurion had to be steady in battle, an natural leader and born surviver. He had to to be strong and smart, BE able to adapt to different battle situations. He had to be strict in exercises and keep dicsipline. He had to be well presented, clean and well dressed. All of his armour had to be polished and bright before an after battle. Think of a Roman Centurion as a captain in the Royal Marines.

All soldiers were in different cohorts (regiments) and in case a soldier got lost, they would be able to find there way back due to the colour coded shields and swords of his cohort. There would also be names on swords and shields to identify fallen ally's, or to distribute armour and weapons.

Trumpets would be sounded by the centurions or the cohort group. This would signify a charge or a retreat.

The most distinguishable art of a Centurion would be the transverse crest on the helmet. This could either symbolise rank or to be identified.

Roman religion was slightly different form greek mythology. For example the gods they believed in were not personified and they thought that everything had it's own spirit. As contact with the Greeks continued however, the Romans became more associated with the Greek's version of the Gods. In 1 AD it was considered wrong to be Christian or to be associated with them and was punishable by death. The Romans later took to the religion Roman Catholic, refusing to believe that a mere mortal was the saviour of the world.