Centurion
A
centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army. Centurions commanded a
century of soldiers and noncombatants. As a centurion grew in seniority, he could command a
cohort, and eventually become
primus pilus,
Latin for first spear, of a
Roman legion.
The centurion's uniform was marked by two alterations from standard Roman uniform: his helmet crest was side to side instead of back to front, and he wore greaves. The centurion also carried a vine staff as a badge of office.