Some are vertical , others are horizontal, and I was just wondering if there was a symbolic difference between the two, or if it was purely aesthetic?
Follow up questions:
Did the colour of the plume (red, blue, yellow, black...) meant something?
What was the penalty if it were dirtied/damaged outside of combat?
Only centurions wore the transversal crest (aptly called Crista transversa) Enlisted men wore the sagittal ones, even though it is debated whether or not they wore them in combat or only for ceremonial purposes.
The reason for this is that the transversal crest makes the officer easier to find on the battlefield. If that is the actual reason or if that just ex post reasoning is unclear.
