Roman Tent Camp COBI 20078 - Imperium Romanum

Did you know:

• The Roman Empire built permanent military camps called Castrum in the territories it controlled.
• In enemy territory and outside the provinces, legionaries built so-called marching camps every evening — this building set represents one of them.
• Military camps were always constructed according to the same layout with a rectangular ground plan, with the shorter side facing the enemy.
• The camp had a main gate called Porta Praetoria and a rear gate called Porta Decumana.
• Around the camp, auxiliary troops dug a one-meter-deep ditch. On the resulting embankment they placed Pilum murale, which every unit carried with them. This created a palisade tied together with ropes, about 120 cm high.
• In the center of the camp stood the commander’s tent with a room for the scribe and the paymaster.
• The marching camp also included workshops, latrines, a field hospital, and stables.
• Legions on the move carried food supplies for up to two years, but whenever a Roman camp was established, it always attracted local merchants and traders who quickly settled near the camp.
• The tent itself was made of oak or pine poles and covered with cowhide.
• The tent (papilio) accommodated 8 men (contubernium), which was the basic unit of the legion.
• The entrance to the tent was protected by a simple fabric flap secured with pegs and leather laces.
• The leather roof of the tent was regularly greased with fat, wax, or tar for better waterproofing.
• The commander’s tent was easily recognizable by its decorative red trim along the edges.

Technical specifications:

• dimensions 3 x 3 m
• height 150–200 cm
• capacity 8 men
• weight 40 kg
• assembly time 30 minutes

Roman regulation Epitoma rei militaris:

“No part of the camp shall be without order. Every soldier shall know where to stand, where to sleep, and where the paths lead. The contubernia shall pitch their tents according to the order of their century and cohort. Before establishing the camp, each tribune shall mark out the via principalis (main road), via praetoria (road from the gate to the commander), and via decumana (rear road).”

About the COBI building set:

• The COBI building set 20078 is made of 199 high-quality ABS blocks
• collection Imperium Romanum
• pad printed – no stickers
• highly detailed design
• made in the EU