An ''aeneator'' ( lat, aēneātor or ) was a specialized player of wind instruments who was attached to a Roman military unit. The word comes from Latin ''aēneus'' or ''ahēneus'', "brazen", from ''aes'', "
copper alloy
Copper alloys are metal alloys that have copper as their principal component. They have high resistance against corrosion. The best known traditional types are bronze, where tin is a significant addition, and brass, using zinc instead. Both of t ...
". While the size of individual Roman military units may have varied, they made extensive use of both acoustical and visual signaling in communications and each had an assigned banner bearer (''
vexillarius
left, A reenactor, equipped as a ''vexillifer'', with a ''vexillum'' standard
Vexillarius is a term referring to one of several distinct types of Roman soldier.
A vexillarius or vexillifer was one of the ''signiferi'' in a Roman legion. His dut ...
'') and at least one ''aeneator''. A variety of instruments were used by ''aeneatores'', including the ''
buccina'', ''
cornu'', ''
tuba
The tuba (; ) is the lowest-pitched musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, the sound is produced by lip vibrationa buzzinto a mouthpiece. It first appeared in the mid-19th century, making it one of the ne ...
'', and ''
lituus
The word ''lituus'' originally meant a curved augural staff, or a curved war-trumpet in the ancient Latin language. This Latin word continued in use through the 18th century as an alternative to the vernacular names of various musical instruments ...
''. In addition to their roles in the Roman army, ''aeneatores'' were also used for processionals and games, particularly in marching home from war.
Categories of ''aeneatores''
''Aeneatores'' who blew a ''buccina'' (a ''C''-shaped horn made of bronze or silver or animal horn) were known as ''
buccinator
The buccinator () is a thin quadrilateral muscle occupying the interval between the maxilla and the mandible at the side of the face. It forms the anterior part of the cheek or the lateral wall of the oral cavity.Illustrated Anatomy of the Head ...
s''; those who blew a ''cornu'' (a ''G''-shaped horn made of brass) were known as ''
cornicines''; those who blew a ''tuba'' (a straight bronze horn with a slight flare at the end)
[
] were known as ''
tubicines'' or ''tubatores''; players of the ''lituus'' were called ''liticines''. ''Cornicines'' and ''tubicines'' mostly performed uncomplicated tactical signaling on the battlefield, and therefore were not accorded special status in the military unit.
[
] They had call duties in the barracks, just as other commonly conscripted soldiers had. By contrast, the ''bucinator'' was seen as a specially-skilled member of the unit who was capable of performing a wider repertoire and was used to perform a variety of ceremonial duties. Many units accorded ''bucinators
immunes'' status,
and there were
equestrian
The word equestrian is a reference to equestrianism, or horseback riding, derived from Latin ' and ', "horse".
Horseback riding (or Riding in British English)
Examples of this are:
*Equestrian sports
*Equestrian order, one of the upper classes in ...
''bucinatores'' that served as cavalry buglers.
See also
*
List of Roman army unit types
This is a list of Roman army units and bureaucrats.
*'' Accensus'' – Light infantry men in the armies of the early Roman Republic, made up of the poorest men of the army.
*'' Actuarius'' – A military who served food.
*''Adiutor'' – A camp o ...
References
{{reflist
Ancient Roman music
Military ranks of ancient Rome
hu:Aeneator