Roman Marching Camp - Sudis (Wooden palisades stake)

Last crawled date: 1 year, 9 months ago

The sudis (plural sudes) is a Latin word meaning stake. It was the name given to stakes carried by Roman legionaries for employment as a field fortification, sometimes also called valus. It is frequently, but incorrectly, called a pilum murale meaning wall spear. These stakes were hewn from either 4 x 4 inch or 2 x 2 inch lumber (usually oak) and about 4 to 5 feet in length, with the center section cut out, and were used to provide a perimeter defense along the top of the palisades walls of a Roman marching camp. The larger size was generally carried by mule, while the smaller size was often carried by the legionary soldier as part of his marching pack. This model shows both size stakes. #camp #camping #fortification #legion #legionary #march #marching #palisade #roman #rome #stake