Hastati

From the Latin word hasta , a spear, so that they may literally be called spearmen. A body of Roman soldiers who were more advanced in age, and had acquired a greater reputation in arms than the velites po e ed, were distinguished by this appellation. They wore a complete set of armor, and always carried a buckler, made convex, measuring 2 1 ⁄ 2 feet in breadth and 4 feet in length. The longest measured about 4 feet 9 inches, or a Roman palm. The buckler was made of two boards glued together. These were covered in the first instance with a broad piece of linen, which was again covered over with sheep-skin. The edges, both at top and bottom, were fenced with iron, to enable them to meet the broadsword and sabre, and to prevent them from rotting when planted on the ground. The convex part was further covered over with iron plates, to resist the impre ion of hard blows, and to withstand the violent concu ion of stones, etc. The hastati commonly formed the first line in the order of battle; the principes were placed in the second line; whilst the oldest and best legionaries, cla ed under the name of triarii , constituted a reserve or third line.