Petty squabbles and bloody battles – the life of an ancient Roman soldier

When one imagines life in the ancient Roman army, it’s easy to conjure images of historic, bloody battles fought at close range. But, as this video from the British Museum details, life in the Roman army was, at its core, a job, with its own distinct barriers to entry, bureaucracies, benefits, hierarchies and interpersonal conflicts. Providing a tour of the exhibition ‘Legion: Life in the Roman Army’, which was on display at the museum earlier this year, the curators Richard Abdy and Carolina Rangel de Lima explore the intricacies of Roman army life through the experiences of a foreign soldier named Claudius Terentianus, who left behind many letters detailing his rise through the ranks and ultimate retirement – complete with a pension and full Roman citizenship.