Military COLUMN, among the Romans, a column whereon was engraven a list of the forces in the Roman army, ranged by legions, in their proper order; with design to preserve the memory of the number of soldiers, and of the order preserved in any military expedition. They had another kind of military column, which they called columna bellica, standing before the temple of Janus; at the foot whereof the consul declared war, by throwing a javelin towards the enemies countries.