Editing Marian reforms (section)

==== Equipment changes ====

Beyond changes to army recruitment, there are two other reforms attributed to Marius specifically in the ancient sources: a redesign for a javelin, and the designation of the {{lang|la|[[Aquila (Roman)|aquila]]}} (eagle) as the universal legionary standard.{{sfn|Taylor|2019|p=78}}

Plutarch relates that Marius altered the design of the Roman {{lang|la|pilum}},<ref>{{harvnb|Taylor|2019|pp=78}}, citing {{harvnb|Plut. ''Mar.''|loc=25}}.</ref> a heavy javelin designed to stick into shields, by including a wooden peg which broke when the javelin was thrown.{{sfn|Matthew|2010|p=54}} Many scholars believe this was to prevent the javelin from being thrown back, but it is more likely that the swinging motion of the broken peg was meant to force someone to discard a shield into which the javelin was struck.{{sfn|Matthew|2010|p=57}} Regardless of the efficacy or purpose of the redesign, archaeological evidence from the 80s&nbsp;BC through to the early imperial era show that Marius' redesign was not adopted.<ref>{{harvnb|Taylor|2019|p=78}}; {{harvnb|Matthew|2010|pp=65–66|ps=. Matthew believes the redesign was a one-time expedient and that Marius' rapid departure from active command in the immediate aftermath of victory over the Cimbri prevented the redesign from being fully adopted.}}</ref> Roman {{lang|la|pila}} without Marius' peg often bent or broke on impact, but this was more likely a by-product of their long, narrow shanks than an intentional feature.{{sfn|Bishop|2017|p=42}}

Pliny's ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Natural History]]'' attributes Marius with adopting the eagle as the universal legionary standard.<ref name=taylor2019citingPlinNH>{{harvnb|Taylor|2019|p=78|ps=, citing Plin., ''NH'', 10.16.}}</ref> This has been interpreted as a rallying symbol for each cohort.{{sfn|Scullard|2011|p=48}} Pliny's claim, however, is incorrect; sources show late republican and early imperial legions with other animal symbols such as bulls and wolves.{{sfn|Taylor|2019|p=79 n. 14}}