How variable was the appearance of legionares?

[Ashtart]

For the problem of roman clones it's a false problem. EB team can easely make warrior with different facial hairs, or some men physicaly a little bit stronger

[Olaf The Great]

I like the idea of Romans having Merit badges.

[antisocialmunky]

Is it possible to make guys of varying height. The thing that really contributes to clone armies is the uniform height.

[Gebeleisis]

well if in rome we had the issue of the evocata beeing giants and prateorian midgets i think it could be done to separate units,not sure if you can alter a soldier from a unit from another that way

[abou]

We see some variation. With the Marian era we may see some differences in the cut of chainmail, but there is mostly variety with helmets. In the relief "Sacrifice and Census" (formerly known as the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus) we see a few soldiers with a variety of helmets including a "Sidon" type. There is another thought to commemorate the victory of Augustus at Actium, which shows Roman infantry on a ship equipped with what appear to be Thracian helmets.

[Gebeleisis]

btw afaik legionaries after marian reform were not accepted into cohorts if they didnt have a certain height ..like 1.77 or over but i may be mistakeing ,can anyone clarify?

[Atilius]

btw afaik legionaries after marian reform were not accepted into cohorts if they didnt have a certain height ..like 1.77 or over but i may be mistakeing ,can anyone clarify?

That's from Vegetius, but probably reflects an ideal rather than a reality.

[Hax]

That's from Vegetius, but probably reflects an ideal rather than a reality.

Yes indeed. The "required" height was between 1.50/1.60 and 1.80, I think, but they didn't really follow that rule.