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Scutum -- Shield
Their are two different types of shield available for use during the time period we recreate. The first is what
modern historians call the Augustan shield. The Augustan is a large, curved, rectangle but with curved sides.
The other type is a large, curved, rectangle. We know that both types of shields were in use for long periods. The
curved rectangular shield is on reliefs from the mausoleum of Munatius Plancus at Gaeta built in 10 BC, and both types can
be seen on Trajan's Column in Rome.
Using the shields found at Ksar al-Harit in Egypt, Doncaster in England and Dura Europas in Syria the height
ranges from 37" to 42", about from the shoulders to the top of the knee, and the width is 24" to 33". They are made
by glueing three strips of wood (such as birch or oak) together at right angles. After all the strips
were put together the thickness of the wood is 1/4" to 3/8" thick. The corner of the shield are not rounded off they
are right angles. The shield was carried by a single horizontial grip in the center.
The shield was covered by either linen on both front and back of the shield or by leather on the front and linen on the
back. The rim of the shield was protected by either a leather edgeing or brass, brass being more common.
The center hand grip was protected by an iron boss called an umbo. This umbo took the shape of the shield itself and
was attached to the shield by as little as four nails and up to eight nails.
Now, the best off the shelf shield is the one made by Deepeeka. Now, the Imperial Legionary shield carried by Deepeeka
is not accurate. The corners are rounded off and not squared off and the back braceing is purely ornamental and
not functional. Now, with that said this shield is acceptable to be carried by our recurits.
The design that we have choosen we cover our shield with is not the one used by Legio VI F during the 1st century AD.
To be honest we don't rightly know what design they used. The design that Deepeeka uses on their Imperial sheild is
the one that we use. This design was used during the 1st century AD but was used by Legio XIV.
Here is what “Roman Military Equipment: From the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome” by M.C. Bishop &
J.C.N. Coulston has to say about the scutum.
A relief on the mausoleum of Munatius Plancus at Gaeta shows that the curved rectangular shield was already in use by
10 BC. An adlocutio coin of the emperor Gaius shows solodiers of the Praetorian Guard equipped with it (fig.
91), so it was obviously widespread well before the invasion of Britian in AD 43. However, thei form, so familiar from
Trajan's Column, was by no means the only type of legionary shield. Oval shields are shown on the tombstones of Flavoleius
Cordus of legio XIIII Gemina (fig. 150a) from Mainz (probably before AD 43) and C. Castricius Victor of legio
II Adiutrix (fig. 3b). There are problems in identifying intermediate shapes due to the ROmans' difficulty in portraying
perspective, but a Praetorian carrying a shield with curved rectangular shield seems to have been exclusive to Praetorians
and legionaries; no representation accompanied by a diagnostic inscription shows an auxiliary equipped with one.
Auxiliaries, both foot and mounted, used flat shields that might be rectangular, oval, or hexagonal.
The relief of Annaius Daverzus from Bingen (Fig. 150d) has a large, flat, rectangular shield sculpted in low relief, as does
Licaius at Wiesbaden. Such a flat shield board was found at Doncaster. Oval shields are often associated with
auxiliaries (as at Adamclisi, or on the Mainz column base) and leather covers of this shape have been found. The cavalryman
Vonatorix from Bonn has a hexagonal shield, as do several other riders.
bosses for the legionary shield frequently reflected its shape, being rectangular and curved around
the central hemispherical boss, although theyare comparatively rare as archaeological finds (the two well-known copper-alloy
pieces of legio VIII Augusta being 2nd-century (Fig. 49) and the three iron examples from the weapons storeat Carnuntum
of uncertain date). A curved circular boss was found in a grave at Nijmegen, along with a Roman helmet. Circuloar
bosses from flat auxiliary shields are more common, a particulary fine piece with a punched ownership inscription coming
from Zwammerdam, closely comparable with the example depicted on a Mainz column base. Bosses could be of iron or copper
alloy, the advantage of the latter being that they could be spun.
Recommended Suppliers:
Soul of the Warrior: carries Deepeeka's linen and leather covered shield as well as their Republican shield. They also carry Imperial and
Augustan shields created by Legio V. Also, a very nice parma that can be completely customized.
Manning Imperial: has an Imperial shield that is covered in leather and brass rimmed lined. You only have to paint it.
Armamentaria: has shields from Republican to Auxilary. Some are Deepeeka, Danyial Steel Craft, and of his own design. Just
be careful of the exchange rate!
Imperium Ancient Armory: has a beautiful battle ready shield that comes pre-painted, and brass rimmed. They even sell good strong bosses.
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