Hat 9118 Republican Roman - Velites

Velici (Latin Velites) is a Roman light infantry from the period of the Republic (509 BC - 31 BC), which formally functioned until the reforms of consul Marius carried out around 100 BC. The youngest and the least experienced soldiers most often fought in this formation, and probably also those who came from the poorest social strata. The role of the Roman Welites on the battlefield was limited to initiating skirmishes with the enemy, covering the development of Roman legions, as well as harassing the enemy. A single soldier of this formation was very lightly armed. The main defensive weapon was a round shield (Latin parma) with a diameter rarely exceeding 1 meter, while on the head it had a light leather helmet. Velites often wore the skins of wild animals - especially wolves, thus referring perhaps to the myth of the Capitoline Wolf. As an offensive weapon, they mainly used short javelins from 1 to 1.2 meters long, and as a side weapon they used short swords.