Exhibition- Legion: Life in the roman army

Legion: Life in the Roman Army is a temporary exhibition at the British Museum exploring the lives of Roman soldiers and their communities. Featuring artefacts like the Vindolanda tablets and letters from Roman Egypt, it offers a personal glimpse into military life across the empire. Greenway Associates served as Quantity Surveyors for this installation.

OUR ROLE

Liam McFaul served as the lead Cost Consultant on this temporary installation.

Greenway Associates are proud to have collaborated with the British Museum for over 15 years, contributing to many fascinating exhibitions, including this memorable project.

THE INSTALLATION

Legion: Life in the Roman Army is a captivating temporary exhibition at the British Museum, offering an in-depth look at the Roman Empire’s unparalleled military might through the lens of individual soldiers and their communities. Spanning over a million square miles at its height, the empire’s success owed much to its army—the first professional fighting force in the West. The exhibition delves into the dual role of the Roman military: as a formidable engine of conquest and a pathway to citizenship, transforming the lives of soldiers and their families.

Central to the narrative is the story of Claudius Terentianus, a Roman soldier whose life journey—enlistment, military campaigns, and eventual retirement—offers visitors a deeply personal connection to the ancient world. Through more than 200 artefacts, the exhibition paints a vivid picture of military and domestic life. Highlights include papyrus letters written by soldiers stationed in Roman Egypt, the Vindolanda tablets from Hadrian’s Wall—some of Britain’s oldest surviving handwritten documents—and the only intact legionary shield in existence. These items reveal not only the rigors of military life but also the daily struggles, hopes, and resilience of the people who lived it.

The exhibition also explores the wider societal impact of the Roman army, highlighting both the rewards and dangers of soldiering. Enlistment promised substantial pensions and the potential for auxiliary troops to earn citizenship, yet soldiers often faced peril on and off the battlefield. Civilians viewed them with a mix of fear and hostility due to their roles as enforcers of occupation and occasional perpetrators of abuse. Artefacts like children’s shoes and tombstones illustrate the familial side of military communities, while grim discoveries, such as the clandestine burial of two soldiers in Canterbury, hint at local resistance to Roman rule. From gilded bronze scabbards and intricately reconstructed arm guards to coins and domestic objects, Legion humanises the empire’s military machine, bringing to life the stories of ordinary individuals. Immersive displays and carefully curated artefacts give visitors a unique perspective on what it meant to live and serve under Rome’s expansive reach, bridging the gap between history and humanity.

Greenway Associates were proud to serve as Quantity Surveyors for this thought-provoking exhibition, contributing to the successful delivery of a project that illuminated the enduring legacy of one of history’s most remarkable armies.