Late-Roman Scuta

[Nathan Ross]

I notice that the shield designs on that Egyptian wood carving appear much the same as those on the famous ivory carving of the provincial official and his guards, from the same place and period - are the two pieces connected? The design is commonly identified as that of the Fifth Macedonica Legion from the N.D.<br>
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I happened to take a look at Osprey's much-maligned 'Late Roman Infantryman' book today, and found some interesting stuff. Granted, the colour plates are quite woefully inaccurate in places, and the whole thing a bit of a grab-bag, but there are some issues raised in it which have come up on this board (as no doubt several of you know very well, but I didn't - they actually have a stab at the infamous 'enigma helmet/Frankhelm' thing!). Anyway, there's a reconstruction drawing of a shield - round, IIRC - with an offset handgrip on the back. I'd need to check again, but I think the caption states that this is based on finds from the British Museum. I'm not sure whether they mean the handgrip is based on anything, or just the shield itself... This handgrip does look very like that on the Arch of Constantine 'marching army' frieze, which I'd previously considered to be a deep dished shield in bad perspective.<br>
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Incidentally, the same book claims that the troops on the Arch of Galerius are infantry indeed - one's holding a horse, but that, so the author claims, doesn't make him a cavalryman. Matter of opinion, I suspect! <p></p><i></i>