The Vigiles of Imperial Rome is a concise history and examination of various aspects of Rome's first 'night watch' from its foundation under Augustus, the available written sources, prefects, archaeological evidence in Rome and Ostia, as well as deployment and hierarchy.

ISBN 0-89005-552-1
133 pages, photos and maps
Paperback

Rome, like many other ancient cities, relied on the good behavior of its citizens to maintain order. During the latter years of the Republic, as politics became more violent, the Romans saw the need for a publicly paid police force. The first emperor Augustus institutionalized the vigiles as the policemen of Rome. Reynolds' book is a description of this force, its recruitment, location in the city, conditions of service, and its role in the daily life of imperial Rome.