1 Design of an aquila: narrow metal pole, about a metre taller than a man, so it could be easily seen in battle; a silver eagle at the top; decorated with cross bars carrying the leg ion’s name and with symbols such as medals that were meaningful to the legion; two rounded bulges on the pole around around where it was held to allow for good grip.
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Outfit worn by a centurion: leather sandals; metal leg protectors down the front of the leg that also covered the knee; a thigh-length skirt reinforced with vertical strips of metal-studded leather; a sturdy belt; a metal breastplate with strips of metal at the shoulder (worn over a cloth undergarment); a red cape, strapped to the belt, and decorated with symbols of office; a sword; a metal helmet, featuring a strip of red feathers on top and side panels to protect the cheeks.
Portrayal of Marcus Aurelius: an older man with short curly grey hair and a grey beard and moustache; a controlled, steady manner, inclined to think a lot; authoritative; a caring, but firm relationship with his son, Commodus.
Clothing and accessories of the emperor: white undergarment and white toga; golden braided belt; sandals; a wreath of laurel leaves around his head; short hair and a trimmed beard; gold clasps securing the toga.
An ovalshaped structure, four ‘stories’ high, with the bottom three ‘stories’ being made up of adjacent arched doorways; a prominent (and guarded) entrance gate; tiered seating internally that stretched up from the arena to almost the top of the structure, divided by stepped accessways; a high wall around the perimeter of the arena, above which was the first row of seating; gates in the perimeter wall to allow entry of gladiators and animals; openings in the arena floor that connected to cells, cages and tunnels underneath to allow the entry of animals; sand covering the arena; underground network of rooms, cages, ramps and tunnels to house gladiators and animals before a fight (damp and dirty).
Thracian gladiator: rounded helmet with a flat rim, a fin-like shape on top of the helmet and either small eyeholes or ‘eyes’ made from metal pierced with tiny holes; small, rounded shield and short dagger-like sword that was curved; metal protectors on the front of the legs, up to the thighs; short tunic and strong belt; metal or leather protector covering the sword arm.
Retarius: short tunic and belt; sandals; typically bare-chested, perhaps with a metal shield on one shoulder/upper arm; carried a net (like a fish net), a three-pronged spear (a trident) and a short sword.
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