Centurio of the Antesignani

The Roman legionaries are here equiped in the style of the late Republican era. It shows a Roman centurio, commanding the antesignani, an elite mobile force supposed to replace the Velites that have been ditched a long time ago, but outperforming them by far. They could fight as heavy infantry just as light infantry according the situation, and acted on their own when they were apart from the main force. They were trained in the use of every weapon, not just the gladius, or artillery as well, could swim and ride a horse and perform ambushes or raids. On the open field, they were units to be reckoned with.
Here, the centurio is rather light armed, with a linothorax instead of the mail shirt, just like his men in the center back, while the heavy legionaries on the side belong to another cohort of the legion.