I'm a miniature gamer starting on collecting and painting my first "legion".

I have a question on the color of the tunics because it is confusing. Osprey uses in its books a variation of colors (red, white, green, ...). In tv documentaries the soldiers always are dressed in red.

Is there some historically foundation on which colors were used?

Thank you

jan

Hi Jan
If you're using Graham Sumner's Ospreys, you've got one of the best authorities there. You might want to look at his 2009 book Roman military dress as well, though it doesn't change the overall image: the evidence suggests that the Roman army used a variety of colors. In general, more recent study suggests that the Roman army looked a lot less uniform than commonly depicted in popular culture. In this sense it remained a militia army for a very long time.

Re Tunic colours.
Osprey's Roman Military Clothing (I) goes into extensive evidence
Based on studies from 26 assorted sources it suggests that the majority of
Roman legionarii tunics were white or off-white. Red may be seen more frequently
in the Centurionate.

The Romans had only certain dyes available to them and this helped decide their colors:
They could leave their tunics undyed, which would give them white, off white, brown or grey cloth. Or they could use various natural dyes: Madder red, indigo blue, woad (blue), saffron yellow, Tyrean purple (really maroon), and various green dyes from plants. One thing about the colors was they faded in the course of a campaign. Thus, you might paint your figures using different shades of the same color (even within the same unit).

As for historical foundations, red is the traditional color of the military, and blue is associated with the navy. However, blue is also associated with Mithra, so units devoted to that cult might wear blue. Yellow was associated with cavalry since Alexander's Companions.

One suggestion I have is looking at European Colonial armies during the late 1800's:
The soldiers had 2 uniforms: one white (or off white) for tropical use, and a heavier, colored uniform for colder weather. In addition there is evidence Roman Soldiers kept one tunic exclusively for battle, and that uniform was red.

In addition Rome's fleets based in Africa, Egypt, and the east, traditionally wore white all year around.

Thanks for that.

I thought that yellow to Roman eyes
was considered a "effeminate" colour in it's day.
Much as "Pink" would be seen today in western colour.

If true it would mean that Romans in Yellow tunics are
the equal of the SAS is Barbie Pink uniforms.
Like no self respecting Roman soldier would be seen in yellow!

I remember a light purple with Alexanders Companions and perhaps
linen armour being yellow coloured

I can only agree with Peter Brouwer statement above. Although many many years ago (but don't think the Roman founds would differ that much since the new production is quite limited...) when I wrote my bachelor about the subject, as far as I can remember all the surviving coloured paintings showed white clothed soldiers with a few in red among them.

I remember I asked my professor about why all movies shows red tunics since I couldn't find anything about it. And all I could get in return was that I wasn't the only one wondering that - ah, see Hollywood