Trapezoidal Shields (Split from \'type of helmet\' thread)

[Quintus Galerius]

Connolly dismisses Livy's description entirely (Greece & Rome at War, p.107) and is of the opinion that Livy is describing the gladiators of his own day, who (from known carvings) are carrying an oval scutum with the top cut off. I think that we can also add the wall-paintings from Pæstum, near Naples, which clearly show Samnite warriors (that have been dated to the 4th century BC - to which Livy's description supposedly refers) carrying large, oval scuta.

Even Salmon said the same thing, I've seen a lot of paintings and other things but NEVER a trapezoidal shield...only clipeus and oval...