Reenactors from Legion III Cyrenaica with the armor and shields of a Roman legion. |
Legion III Cyrenaica was formed around 35 BCE in the city of Cyrene.* The five-thousand-man unit, originally loyal to Marcus Antonius, defected to join Octavian** during the Battle of Actium in 31 CE. After his final victory over Antonius and Cleopatra, Octavian garrisoned the Legion in Egypt, where it remained throughout the first century.
While small detachments may have joined military campaigns across the empire, the main body of the Legion stayed at the double-fortress of Nikopolis, along with troops of the Legion XXII Deiotariana. There, they acted as a local police force, protected the borders and maintained control of the Nile, administered mining operations, and manned outposts as far as Thebes and along the Red Sea. Much of a Legionary soldier’s service was spent not in active combat but in quiet guard duty and engineering work – the Legions also maintained fortresses and built roads, bridges and even amphitheaters throughout the empire.
Legion III left Egypt around 120 CE, relocated to Bosra in Syria (modern-day Jordan), where it actively served until around 430, making it one of the longest-lived Roman Legions on record.
Legion III reenactors bring a variety of replica materials to help visitors understand life in ancient Rome. |
Join Legion III Cyrenaica at our Spring Community Day, Festa Roma, March 14, 2020 – an all-day celebration of ancient Rome. The Legion will have interactive tables and displays, where visitors of all ages can try on a Roman helmet, lift a Scutum shield, try writing as the Romans did on wax tablets and papyrus, learn about Roman foodways, and about Legionary and Auxiliary soldiers, their arms, armor and equipment. There will even be a special “Kiddie Cohort” activity where you can try maneuvering in roman tactical formations under Latin and Greek commands!
*Located in modern-day Libya; this is likely the source of the title Cyrenaica
**Later Augustus, first emperor of Rome
Meet Legion III Cyrenica at WAM Spring Community Day 2020: Festa Roma
Sarah Leveille
Digital Media Specialist
February 27, 2020