PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
You've seen Gladiator, you've seen Ben Hur, but you've never seen Roman soldiers getting down to the nitty gritty--digging ditches, cooking over an open fire, using the three-seater latrine--all in the cold and wet of a British November.

In a compelling mix of down-to-earth observation and historical insight, Dr. Kate Gilliver of Cardiff University sees her dream come true as the Roman army comes to life for a week. "We learn next to nothing about the experiences of ordinary soldiers from the ancient texts so this has been a very valuable experience in terms of expanding my ideas and understanding of the Roman army".

The training is based on the writings of Roman author Vegetius, taking the men through eight stages: encampment, guard duty, drill, weapons, ditch and rampart, palisade, battle formation and route march. The soldiers are camping in the Wales/England borders, wearing footwear they find inappropriate for the weather. One stormy night drives them out of the camp altogether, but they return determined to complete their training. On the final day the soldiers have to leave the camp which has been their home for the week, march five miles in full heavy kit, and then pitch camp at a new site. It's exhausting but their exhilaration is palpable as they relax afterwards in a Roman barracks-style hot bath.

The Roman military unit is comprised of an eight-man team sharing one tent and a junior officer in charge of cooking and guard duty. All the volunteers are fit, working men with no expertise in Roman history.

The armour and weapons are made by John Eagle, who was an advisor on the feature film Gladiator. The men eat an authentic military diet designed by Roman food expert Sally Grainger, and wear authentic clothes, made with the advice from Lyndsay Allason-Jones, Director of Archaeological Museums at Newcastle University.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Producer Deborah Perkin
Series Editor Laurence Rees

DURATION
1x50'