it was not a word often used in ancient times, but it is used by modern writers to express the ideals which inspired the roman state. it meant a great many things, but in short it meant what it was to be roman (that is, roman-ness). the roman ideal was the citizen/soldier/farmer. the farmer was a hard working, frugal, practical man who worked the land with his own hands. the soldier was a courageous, strong man who obeyed orders and risked his own life in the name of rome. prior to the formation, under gaius marius, of the standing roman army, rome had a militia-type defence-force which could be called up in time of war and then disbanded during peacetime. the ideal of the homo militaris – embodying the functions of the citizen, soldier and farmer – was lucius quinctius cincinnatus. according to roman legend, cincinnatus was tending his farm when a messenger arrived, telling him that rome was under attack and that he had been elected dictator. he was at first reluctant to go, but the senate pleaded with him. he defeated the enemy tribe within a matter of weeks and, despite there remaining most of his six-month term as dictator with absolute power, returned to his farm.