Aeneator
Encyclopedia
An aeneator refers to a classical Roman
professional performer of a horn who was attached to a Roman miltiary unit. The word comes from Latin aēneus or ahēneus, "brazen", from aes, "copper alloy
".
) and at least one Aeneator. A variety of instruments were used by aeneators, including the buccina
, cornu
, tubae, and lituus
. In addition to their roles within battle, aeneators would also be used for processionals and games, particularly in marching home from war
; those who blew a tuba (a straight bronze horn with a slight flare at the end) were known as tubicens
; those who blew a buccina (a C-shaped horn made of bronze or silver or animal horn) were known as bucinators
. Cornicens and tubicens 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 immunis status, and there were equestrian bucinatores that served as calvary buglers.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
professional performer of a horn who was attached to a Roman miltiary unit. The word comes from Latin aēneus or ahēneus, "brazen", from aes, "copper alloy
Copper alloys
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...
".
Aeneators' role in war
While the size of individual Roman military units, or Alae, may have varied, any Ala would made extensive use of both acoustical and visual signaling in communications and had an assigned banner bearer (VexillariusVexillarius
The Vexillarius can mean one of three things:First, a Vexillarius or Vexillifer was one of the signiferi in a Roman legion. His duty was to carry the Vexillum, a military standard displaying the name and emblem of the legion. This standard consisted of a woven fabric banner, hung on a crossbar...
) and at least one Aeneator. A variety of instruments were used by aeneators, including the buccina
Buccina
A buccina or bucina , anglicized buccin or bucine, is a brass instrument used in the ancient Roman army similar to the Cornu. An aeneator who blew a buccina was called a "buccinator" or "bucinator" ....
, cornu
Cornu (horn)
A cornu or cornum was a type of brass instrument similar to the buccina used by the Roman army of antiquity mainly for communicating orders to troops in battle. It is a Latin word literally meaning horn. The instrument was about long and took the form of a letter 'G'...
, tubae, and lituus
Lituus
The word lituus originally meant a curved augural staff or a curved war-trumpet in the ancient Latin language. In English it is used with several meanings.-Roman ritual wand:...
. In addition to their roles within battle, aeneators would also be used for processionals and games, particularly in marching home from war
Different categories of aeneators
Aeneators who blew a cornu (a G-shaped horn made of brass) were known as cornicinesCornicen
A cornicen was a junior officer in the Roman Army. The cornicen's job was to signal salutes to officers and sound orders to the legions. The cornicines played the cornu . Cornicines always marched at the head of the centuries, with the tesserary and the signifer...
; those who blew a tuba (a straight bronze horn with a slight flare at the end) were known as tubicens
Roman tuba
The tuba of ancient Rome is a military signal trumpet, quite different from the modern tuba. The tuba was produced around 500 BC. Its shape was straight, in contrast to the military buccina or cornu, which was more like the modern tuba in curving around the body. Its origin is thought to be...
; those who blew a buccina (a C-shaped horn made of bronze or silver or animal horn) were known as bucinators
Buccina
A buccina or bucina , anglicized buccin or bucine, is a brass instrument used in the ancient Roman army similar to the Cornu. An aeneator who blew a buccina was called a "buccinator" or "bucinator" ....
. Cornicens and tubicens 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 immunis status, and there were equestrian bucinatores that served as calvary buglers.
Other non-military uses for aerophones
Aeneators were not the only skilled or specialized players of wind instruments in Ancient Roman culture. For other Roman aerophones and their usage outside of military contexts, see also:- CornicenCornicenA cornicen was a junior officer in the Roman Army. The cornicen's job was to signal salutes to officers and sound orders to the legions. The cornicines played the cornu . Cornicines always marched at the head of the centuries, with the tesserary and the signifer...
- BuccinaBuccinaA buccina or bucina , anglicized buccin or bucine, is a brass instrument used in the ancient Roman army similar to the Cornu. An aeneator who blew a buccina was called a "buccinator" or "bucinator" ....
- AulosAulosAn aulos or tibia was an ancient Greek wind instrument, depicted often in art and also attested by archaeology.An aulete was the musician who performed on an aulos...
- TubaRoman tubaThe tuba of ancient Rome is a military signal trumpet, quite different from the modern tuba. The tuba was produced around 500 BC. Its shape was straight, in contrast to the military buccina or cornu, which was more like the modern tuba in curving around the body. Its origin is thought to be...
- Hydraulis