‘Medical Service’ in the Late Republican Roman Army (1st century B.C.)

Abstract

Current researches on ‘medical service’ in the Roman army have usually concentrating on the imperial period. It is mainly a result of the lack of republican sources but also incorrect research assumptions. The only reference to the topic is contained in Tusculanae disputationes by Marcus Tullius Cicero. The author of the article tries to present how literary topoi and terms of service in the late republican Roman army have had an impact on our understanding of legions organization in the 1st century B.C. According to the author the most credible type of sources were not historiographical texts but philosophical treaties or poetry. The reason is that late republican historians wanted to present Roman victories only as a result of Roman courage and virtue.