The Romans are Coming!

Standing barely three centimeters tall yet crafted with remarkable precision from helmet tips to legionary sandals, the tin soldiers of Thomas Kurtz are showcased in museums across Bavaria, Germany, and Europe. This Munich-based model maker brings Roman legions to life in intricate 3D scenes and dioramas. Visitors of all ages love the vivid displays, and teachers often bring their classes to see these models firsthand. This makes history fun! But how do the Romans make their way into museums? We sat down with the artist to find out...

An Interview with Thomas Kurtz from Mules of Marius

Detail einer Zenturie, der kleinsten Einheit einer Legion. — Detail of a century, the smallest unit of a legion. © Bianca Faletti

Thomas Kurtz’s tin legionaries are conquering Bavaria, having already impressed audiences in places like Kalkriese, near the historic Varus Battle site, and in Upper Austria. His 1:72 scale figures are meticulously painted with historical precision, even down to the tiny shields, which Kurtz hand-paints on paper before shrinking and reproducing them. These dioramas, often featured in museum exhibitions, are enhanced by life-size replicas and illustrations, providing visitors with an engaging and immersive historical experience.

Thomas Kurtz im Infopoint — Thomas Kurtz at the Infopoint. © Bianca Faletti

Christof Flügel und Bernd Steidl vor dem Entwurf des Legions-Dioramas — Christof Flügel and Bernd Steidl in front of the design for the legion diorama in 2013: The idea for a museum exhibition is born. © Thomas Kurtz

The Romans managed to secure an empire that spanned the entire Mediterranean world, home to 50-80 million people, with only around 450,000 professional soldiers (legionaries and auxiliaries). Approximately 200,000 of these were stationed in the northwestern provinces.

Despite the fascination with the efficiency of the Roman military and the widespread interest in Roman exhibitions, events, and reenactments, it's important to remember that the Roman army was primarily a highly effective war machine. Many of its actions, by today's standards, would be considered brutal and destructive acts of war crimes.

A Unique Hobby and a Growing Legacy

What started as a school project for Kurtz’s son evolved into a traveling classroom exhibition, catching the eye of curators Christof Flügel and Bernd Steidl. They helped bring the dioramas to the Regensburg City Museum in 2015, where international congress visitors were so impressed that loan requests came pouring in from across Europe.

Excerpt of an "Ala": the largest cavalry unit with around 800 riders. — Detail of an "Ala": the largest equestrian unit with around 800 riders will also be on show in Manching. As an introduction, the smallest component (a "Turma" with 32 riders) is also available at the Infopoint. Photo: Thomas Kurtz © Thomas Kurtz

What is a Diorama? And How is it Created?

Thomas Kurtz explains: Dioramas are models featuring figures, often set against a painted backdrop. The first dioramas emerged in the 19th century, with some even using lighting to simulate changing times of the day. While we commonly encounter them in natural history and technology museums, they are also cherished in historical collections for their ability to create a three-dimensional tableau. Peering into these miniature worlds, we are drawn into a historical still life, where shifting our perspective continually reveals new details.

Dozens of miniature soldiers on a piece of foam for safe transport. — For the exhibition in Manching, newly modeled slingers were created as an example of auxiliary troops. The figures are already painted and ready to be placed into the diorama. © Thomas Kurtz

Dozens of miniature figures arranged into legions. — A legion of 5,400 figures on the march. © Thomas Kurtz

The small figures come from Jörg Schmäling, a hobbyist who, by day, creates dental implants and, in his free time, sculpts tiny Romans in countless poses. A wire frame is covered with modeling clay to form a miniature figure, which is then cast and filled with tin. The sample figures are hand-painted, while the rest are completed with slight variations. The models are assembled by Friedrich Höchsmann and Daniela and Patrick Ulrich from the Verein Geschichte in Miniatur e.V., whose largest model to date was seven meters long, crafted with real earth and thousands of tiny pieces of wood.

Dr. Christian Koepfer, a historian and lecturer at the University of Augsburg, is responsible for the text and many of the life-size replicas. The life-size illustrations are created by Graham Sumner, an expert in Roman military attire.

In this film (external link, opens in a new window), you can see how the figures are made!

The central figure for the special exhibition "In the Service of Rome" at the Kelten Römer Museum Manching. On the left, as a 0.25 cm tin figure; on the right, as a life-size illustration by Graham Sumner — he central figure for the special exhibition "In the Service of Rome" at the Kelten Römer Museum Manching. On the left, as a 0.25 cm tin figure; on the right, as a life-size illustration by Graham Sumner © Thomas Kurtz

Thomas Kurtz, Christof Flügel and Nathalie Schwaiger