The oval scutum was depicted on the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus in Rome, the Aemilius Paullus monument at Delphi, and there is also an actual example found at Kasr el-Harit in Egypt. Roman shields were curved so that they would fit round the soldier’s body and wide enough so that it could be butted-up to the shields of other … You will learn more about the ancient weapon on Facts about.. 10 Facts about Roman Armour. The word “scutum” survived the old Roman Empire and entered the military vocabulary of the Byzantine Empire. 10 Facts about Roman Shields. He's Got Quite the Family. It is managed by Tyne and Wear Museums as Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum Their uniquely large scuta, as the Romans’ shields were called, allowed them to present a 360-degree wall of wood to opponents. A role-play then explains and shows how the Roman army was a precise military machine. a shield. Close-quarters combat, however, was dangerous, and the Roman legionaries needed suitable protection whilst approaching the enemy. hole cut from the middle of the shield. join the army, even if they were not citizens. then covered in leather and a sheet of linen cloth added to the front. The curved shape of the shield allowed it to absorb heavy blows, while the sides sloped away from the defender, allowing arrows and enemy blow to glance off without transmitting the full force of the impact to the legionary sheltering behind it. Gladiators were often criminals and enslaved people, hired to provide entertainment in the Roman Circus or another arena. This mid 3rd century AD semi-cylindrical shield is known asa scutum and was used by legionary soldiers of the Roman Empire.Constructed of thin strips of wood glued together in layers to create a plywoodboard, the surface is covered with red-dyed hide or parchment. And in case of emergencies, each legionary had a dagger, or pugio, to use as a last resort. The edges of the shield were also bound in brass or rawhide, to reinforce and protect them, and may also have been used offensively. The boss in the center of the shield that is the umbo, constructed either from a copper alloy of either brass or bronze or iron, was itself used offensively, being heavy and dense enough to stun or wind an opponent thereby easing the legionnaire’s subsequent strike with his gladius. Later, the parma was replaced by the scutum. This rectangular scutum gradually replaced the oval scutum. flat, but at the time of the invasion of Britain (AD43) most were You do not have to be curious to find out the.. 10 Facts about Roman Catapults. The oval scutum is depicted on the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus in Rome, the Aemilius Paullus monument at Delphi, and there is an actual example found at Kasr el-Harit in Egypt. Earlier on they were oval and flat, but at the time of the invasion of Britain (AD43) most were rectangular and curved, like part of a cylinder. Copyright © 2020 Ancient-Rome.info. one of the most famous is the eagle's wings and lightning bolt. Roman Britain, area of the island of Great Britain that was under Roman rule from the conquest of Claudius in 43 CE to the withdrawal of imperial authority by Honorius in 410 CE. Jupiter, the king of the gods (Jupiter was the Roman version of the Greek The roundopening in the centre would originally have been covered by a protective boss,probably iron, now lost. Legionaries would typically advance alternately with the scutum partially raised, crowding and blocking the opponent and then with the gladius. Units of the Roman Army The basic unit of the Roman Army was called “century”.A century had 80 soldiers, grouped into 10 sections with 8 soldiers in each, who shared either a barrack or a tent. The Roman soldiers were known to be perfectly drilled. Ancient Roman Shields Imperial Scutum part1. In the days of the Ancient Rome, Roman soldiers often bore round shields called aside by the Greeks, in the fashion of Greek hoplites. No complete auxiliary shield has been found The traditional shield of the Roman legionaries was the scutum. Gradually the scutumevolved into the rectangular (or sub-rectangular) type of the early Roman Empire… The Hastati were the first line of Roman soldiers and they wore breastplates called cuirass and occassionally chainmail, which they called lorica hamata. They often wore chain mail armour Gradually the scutum evolved into the rectangular or sub-rectangular type during the early Roman Empire known as the imperial scutum discussed below. There were many kinds of Roman shields used by legionaries (soldiers). However, the scutum disappeared during the Crisis of the Third Century. It also had an iron boss or umbo fixed to it which turned aside the most formidable blows of stones, pikes, and such other heavy missiles in general. (tortoise). It was a semi-circular shield, designed so that any missiles thrown at the soldier would be deflected to one side. of wood - a few layers glued together to make the curved shape. Curved, rectangular scuta were constructed largely of strips of overlapping bentwood, probably set in place by steaming over a curved form in very much the same way as how a modern-day plywood chair is made although there is no direct evidence survives to prove this. wooden strips which reinforce the shield. This shield is called a scutum. rectangular and curved, like part of a cylinder. This kind of shield can protect the body of the soldier during battle. This is the only known surviving example of the semicylindrical shield known as a scutum, used by Roman legionaries and known from literary sources.Found flattened, in thirteen pieces, and missing its umbo (central boss), the shield was reconstructed by the Yale-French excavation team. Reenactor with scutum and pilum (javelin). This shield is called a scutum. Sheepskin was used above the In the former, the soldiers carried a round shield, which the Romans called a clipeus. The Parma was about 36 inches (91 cm) across (or less) and had iron in its frame, making it a very effective piece of armor. Originally it was an oblong and convex shield. This was a large curved shield that was adapted from the Italic peoples whom the Romans fought against. KS2 History Roman Empire learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers. There were many designs, but The Roman army, arguably one of the longest surviving and most effective fighting forces in military history, has a rather obscure beginning. There were many kinds of Roman shields used by legionaries (soldiers). but were either dished closely resembling a bowl or flat. Earlier on they were oval and Even in the 11th century, the Byzantines called their armored soldiers “Skutatoi.”. Legionary soldiers had to be Above you can see another boss Aside from being oval-shaped, these shields are rectangular in form. Shields like this were used between the 7th century BC until the 1st century AD. This holds true today, and was true for the soldiers of Rome. The Activity Pack includes a PowerPoint including information about Roman shields, what they looked like, what they were used for, and a fun Make a Roman Shield activity in … … Roman Shields facts. The Velites armor consisted of a parma, javelin, sword and helmet. These are the best facts for Scutum, collected by our users from the web: (You can find the source through the icon at the end of each fact) the Latin word for " shield ", although it has in modern times come to be specifically associated with the rectangular, semi- cylindrical body shield carried by ancient Roman legionaries However, one magnificently well-preserved rectangular scutum found at Dura-Europos was colored red and emblazoned with geometric patterns, winged figures, and animal motifs. the shields held overhead as well as in front and on the sides. A carving showing a lightning bolt pattern on The Republican scutum was ovally shaped, in later times it became rectangular. Designs were usually painted onto the front. arrows. All troops adopted the auxiliary oval (and sometimes round or hexagonal) shield (parma or clipeus). At the time of its invasion of Britain, the Roman army was the most disciplined and efficient killing machine that the ancient world had ever known. Roman artwork from the end of the 3rd century till the end of Antiquity depicted soldiers wielding oval or round shields. Only one scutum in good To reinforce the shield, metal was … There were many kinds of Roman The eagle On the Dura scutum. The scutum was made by gluing layers of wood together, which was then covered with leather. shields used by legionaries (soldiers). shield could also be used in a special formation called a testudo Lower down this page you can see some The technology of armor has changed, but the principle remains the same: protect the wearer during battle. strips of wood were glued on the back for more strength. with the arm straight, holding a grip in the middle. It has pictures of an eagle, a lion, and winged Their concave nature offered substantial protection, but made the use of weapons somewhat difficult as it restricted arm movement. Ancient Roman Shields: Scutum was the Latin word for “shield”, in spite of it being specifically associated with the rectangular, semi-cylindrical body shield, it is still carried by Roman legionaries in the modern times. Parma had a handle and a shield boss (umbo). For close-up fighting, he carried a short sword called a gladius. Roman shields are an exciting topic to introduce to your KS2 children with the help of this Roman Shield Activity Pack. The Roman writer Cassius Dio in his Roman History described Roman against Roman in the Battle of Philippi: For a long time there was pushing of shield against shield and thrusting with the sword, as they were at first cautiously looking for a chance to wound others without being wounded themselves. By the first century BC it had developed into … so they could attack a city's walls and be protected from missiles like handle to make the grip more comfortable. The rim was protected either Below is a carving showing the testudo. modern copies of Roman shields. Roman citizens. You The Parma was used by legionnaires in the Early Republican period of Rome's history by the lowest class division of the army—the Velites. The 4th century archaeological finds particularly from the fortress of Dura-Europos indicated the subsequent use of oval or round shields which were not semi-cylindrical, but were either dished closely resembling a bowl or flat. Europos shield the boss has been lost. The most famous of the Roman shields, great scuta were large and either rectangular or oval. The parma wa… In battle the shield was held Auxiliary soldiers had a … They have Some descriptions of the testudo discriminate betw… However, men living in land ruled by the Romans could also The scutum was a type of shield used among Italic peoples in antiquity, and then by the army of ancient Rome starting about the fourth century BC. Similarly, there is also little evidence for the designs painted on scuta, although depictions from Trajan’s Column suggest that eagle-wing and thunderbolt motifs were used. If all-round protection was needed, men on the flanks and at the rear could also present and lock their nearly metre-wide shields together, their sharply curved fronts forming an excellent missile barrier. The They were called auxiliary The Roman panoply consisted firstly of a shield or scutum, the convex surface of which measured two and a half feet in width and four feet in length, the thickness at the rim being a palm’s breadth. and used flat, oval shields. In the latter, they used the scutum, which was a larger shield. This shield is called a Some extra Powered by WordPress and Stargazer. Arbeia was a large Roman fort in South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England, now ruined, and which has been partially reconstructed.It was first excavated in the 1870s and all modern buildings on the site were cleared in the 1970s. By the end of the 3rd century, however, the rectangular scutum was believed to have disappeared. The grip was across a Weapons used by some gladiators included knives and swords, shields, and helmets. soldiers, and their gear was different. Caligae (Heavy-Soled Military Shoes or Sandals) Caligae are the legendary military shoes worn by … Some Interesting Facts About the Roman Soldiers. Auxiliary soldiers had a different shaped shield (see below). There were many different types of gladiators, based on their clothing and weapons. This meant that the shield was strong yet at the same time light enough to be carried over long distances. Roman shields were used by legionnaires and soldiers to deflect ranged weapons like spears and to protect them in close combat. was the symbol of the Roman army, and the lightning bolt was the symbol of The soldiers formed a complete shell to cover themselves, with By the end of the 3rd century, however, the rectangular scutum was believed to have disappeared. The 4th century archaeological finds particularly from the fortress of Dura-Europos indicated the subsequent use of oval or round shields which were not semi-cylindrical. boss, a hemisphere of iron with an iron plate around it. Therefore, the gladius was paired with a shield known as a scutum. The scuta were often curved in order to receive blows. gods. Roman legionaries wore armour made from iron and leather strips. This scutum is made after a variety of examples from the Roman republic. with strips of bronze or with leather. Roman Shields: Introduction. The clipeus was used by Romans during Roman Kingdom and early Republic but was replaced by the legionary scutum, a convex rectangular shield, in the later Roman Republic. The best surviving example, from Dura-Europos in Syria, was 1.06 m (42 in) in height, a chord of 0.66 m or 26 inches, with a distance around the curve of 0.86 m or 34 inches, and a thickness of 5 mm to 6 mm. Roman Shields. Armor Armor is one of the most important part of any soldier's equipment. Learn about the Roman system of roads and fortifications in Britain, Roman civil administration, and Romano-British art in … found in Britain, made of bronze and decorated. can see it on the right. Roman Shields. Scuta of the early empire was popularly depicted as being red in color, although there has been little proof that all scuta were painted red. They wore a metal helmet called a galea. He had two javelins (throwing spears) to hurl at the enemy from a distance. Facts about Roman Armour give the people the information about one.. Shield from Fabrica Cacti, sword from Dynasty Forge. While Roman Reigns might not sound like a name full of wrestling history … The painted decoration on the surface reflects typical Romaniconography of military victory, including an eagle on a globe, two … an eagle's wings and lightning bolt design. The back of a replica shield, showing the And while the standard scutum of the 1st century BC pertained to an oval-shaped shield that weighed around 10 kg (22 lbs), its shape was transformed into a curved rectangular board during the Augustan period. This was The use of rectangular scuta ended by the 3rd century AD, but scuta in general survived into the Byzantine Empire. It was made in the 200s AD. This hole was protected by a metal The spread of the Roman Empire was partly due to the fact that the Roman army was so well organised. The soldier could In the days of Ancient Rome, Roman soldiers often bore round shields called aspidai (ἄσπιδαι) by the Greeks, in the fashion of Greek hoplites. Earlier on they were oval and flat, but at the time of the invasion of Britain (AD43) most were rectangular and curved, like part of a cylinder. It’s easy to see where the “tortoise” formation got its name. Roman Weapons, Armour and Equipment Roman soldiers wore helmets and body protection in battle and in the early to mid-Republican era the legionaries usually brought their own equipment. The shields were mostly made The shield was A legionary carried four weapons into battle with him. The Greek biographer Plutarch credits the fabled founder of Rome, Romulus, with creating the legionary forces (as they would be known in the Republic and Imperial periods), yet the Roman historian Livy says that the early Roman army fought more along the lines of Greek hoplites in a phalanx, most likel… condition has ever been found, at Dura Europos, a Roman fort in Syria. but we know what they looked like from stone carvings (see below). It was made of two planks glued together, the outer surface is then covered first with canvas and then with calf-skin. On the left side of the soldier's body was his shield (scutum) used for protection. The Romans adopted it when they switched from the military formation of the hoplite phalanx of the Greeks to the formation with maniples. This meant that the shield was light enough for a soldier to hold it with one hand. July 3, 2015, cherran, Leave a comment. god Zeus, who threw thunderbolts from the sky). 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