An aeneator (Latin: aēneātor or ahēneātor) was a specialized player of wind instruments who was attached to a Roman military unit.
While the size of individual Roman military units may have varied, they made extensive use of both acoustical and visual signaling in communications and each had an assigned banner bearer (vexillarius) and at least one aeneator.
In addition to their roles in the Roman army, aeneatores were also used for processionals and games, particularly in marching home from war.
Cornicines and tubicines mostly performed uncomplicated tactical signaling on the battlefield, and therefore were not accorded special status in the military unit.
Many units accorded bucinators immunes status,[3] and there were equestrian bucinatores that served as cavalry buglers.