Ab urbe condita

Titus Livius (Livy)

Livy. History of Rome, Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.

The foremost line consisted of the hastati, formed into fifteen companies, drawn up at a short distance from each other.

These were called the lightarmed companies, as whilst one-third carried a long spear (hasta and short iron javelins, the remainder carried shields. This front line consisted of youths in the first bloom of manhood just old enough for service.