08-15-2003, 07:05 PM
<<Ok Flavius - do you know when the Romans began using rectangular shields? I know they were in use by AD14, but I'd assumed ol' Julius would not have used the oval ones, though I have a worryingly realistic looking print of him carrying a bloody great stretched oval, which worries me, frankly.<br>
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Any information always appreciated.<br>
<br>
Conn>><br>
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Avete, Conn et John (Maddox Roberts):<br>
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Connolly proposed that the "clipped" Republican scutum (squared-off top and bottom, curved sides, often described as "Augustan") first came in during Marius' time, perhaps due to his reform in making legionaries pack around their own gear. The clipped shield is much easier to lug around on the march than the full-length Fayum-style scutum. Most others seem to think the change came much later; John Warry, in "Warefare in the Classical World," proposes that the clipped shield with a spindle-shaped boss came in around 10 BC, the same with a round boss around AD 20, the rectangular Trajan's Column-style shield around AD 40-50, and posits a reversion to a flat or dished oval clippus ca. AD 150. The new book "Weapons of the Romans" questions whether the rectangular shield was ever really much in use, except perhaps by specialist divisions expert at forming the testudo. This seems to follow Dr. Caroline Driel-Murray's theories, which are based on her excavations of Roman auxiliary forts. It's a bit of a hodge-podge of opinion at present, but that's the way it stands at present.<br>
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The Praetorians seem to have persisted in using the full-length Republican scutum (they presumably didn't do much marching in full kit). Perhaps senior officers, who didn't have to lug around a shield on the march, might have done the same-- hence, your print of Julius Caesar holding a big Republican oval (he's shown doing just this in Graham Sumner's "Roman Military Clothing Vol. I") might be quite accurate.<br>
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Hope this helps!<br>
<br>
T. Flavius Crispus<br>
Legio VI Victrix Pia Fidelis<br>
California, USA<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
Any information always appreciated.<br>
<br>
Conn>><br>
<br>
Avete, Conn et John (Maddox Roberts):<br>
<br>
Connolly proposed that the "clipped" Republican scutum (squared-off top and bottom, curved sides, often described as "Augustan") first came in during Marius' time, perhaps due to his reform in making legionaries pack around their own gear. The clipped shield is much easier to lug around on the march than the full-length Fayum-style scutum. Most others seem to think the change came much later; John Warry, in "Warefare in the Classical World," proposes that the clipped shield with a spindle-shaped boss came in around 10 BC, the same with a round boss around AD 20, the rectangular Trajan's Column-style shield around AD 40-50, and posits a reversion to a flat or dished oval clippus ca. AD 150. The new book "Weapons of the Romans" questions whether the rectangular shield was ever really much in use, except perhaps by specialist divisions expert at forming the testudo. This seems to follow Dr. Caroline Driel-Murray's theories, which are based on her excavations of Roman auxiliary forts. It's a bit of a hodge-podge of opinion at present, but that's the way it stands at present.<br>
<br>
The Praetorians seem to have persisted in using the full-length Republican scutum (they presumably didn't do much marching in full kit). Perhaps senior officers, who didn't have to lug around a shield on the march, might have done the same-- hence, your print of Julius Caesar holding a big Republican oval (he's shown doing just this in Graham Sumner's "Roman Military Clothing Vol. I") might be quite accurate.<br>
<br>
Hope this helps!<br>
<br>
T. Flavius Crispus<br>
Legio VI Victrix Pia Fidelis<br>
California, USA<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
T. Flavius Crispus / David S. Michaels
Centurio Pilus Prior,
Legio VI VPF
CA, USA
"Oderint dum probent."
Tiberius
Centurio Pilus Prior,
Legio VI VPF
CA, USA
"Oderint dum probent."
Tiberius
