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The Arts Intel Report

Legion: Life in the Roman Army

Two sides of an Ancient Roman gold coin.

Feb 1 – June 23, 2024
Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, UK

Since it turns out that most men think about the Roman Empire as often as once a day, what better time than now to visit an exhaustive, Roman-soldier-centered exhibition at the British Museum? While “Legion: Life in the Roman Army” will certainly scratch the itch for the Roman-obsessed modern man, the diverse array of featured artifacts—from the letters soldiers sent home to the red woolen socks they wore—make certain there’s something for everyone. The exhibition covers the peak of the empire, from the reign of Augustus in 13 B.C. to that of Maximinus Thrax in 238 A.D. Though wide-ranging and expansive, the show also humanizes the soldiers, following one legionnaire’s career from enlistment to retirement. A breathtaking view into one of the greatest military mights in history. —Paulina Prosnitz

Photo: © The Trustees of the British Museum

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