06-11-2013, 12:20 PM
Two things:
First, I think that the idea comes from a combination of the roman leather shield-covers that are found and the (medieval?) use of wet leather on siege-machines that would in deed have been done back then.
Second, about Roman Leather shield-covers: Roman shields where made of layers of thin strips of wood covered with felt, leather or linen to give the structure extra strength.
All this -the wood and the covering- was I belief glued together with hide-glue. Hide glue however is-even when dry- solvable with water... So that's where the leather shield covers come in: because these where designed to prevent the shields from being exposed to the elements (like rain) as long as possible...
So if you where a Roman soldier, the last thing you wanted to do, is get your shield wet, one way or the other. Other wise the thing would fall apart on you....
hock:
First, I think that the idea comes from a combination of the roman leather shield-covers that are found and the (medieval?) use of wet leather on siege-machines that would in deed have been done back then.
Second, about Roman Leather shield-covers: Roman shields where made of layers of thin strips of wood covered with felt, leather or linen to give the structure extra strength.
All this -the wood and the covering- was I belief glued together with hide-glue. Hide glue however is-even when dry- solvable with water... So that's where the leather shield covers come in: because these where designed to prevent the shields from being exposed to the elements (like rain) as long as possible...
So if you where a Roman soldier, the last thing you wanted to do, is get your shield wet, one way or the other. Other wise the thing would fall apart on you....
hock:
Folkert van Wijk
Celtic Auxilia, Legio II Augusta.
With a wide interrest for everything Celtic BC
Celtic Auxilia, Legio II Augusta.
With a wide interrest for everything Celtic BC
