11-06-2016, 09:59 AM
(11-06-2016, 05:23 AM)JHCS Wrote: We believe the scuta may link quite well with the modern day riot shield as with the accompanying tactics. However, we're unsure whether any other aspect may have carried over and how it has done so as we are unsure on the intermediary phase of the 'evolution'.
Not an archaeologist or even an historian but I do have a few remarks.
- riot tactics, training, procedures, equipment, rules of engagements actually vary a lot across time and countries. Even for a given place and time, they may change depending on the local security/political context.
- however, you do see a trend in the last xx years, where riot police in developed countries are moving away from "roman army looking" tactics towards the use of more complex tactics and equipment. Typically, they do not want to "defeat" the crowd but simply to keep it under control. So if you're looking for roman army inspired stuff, you'll probably have to go back in time a bit rather look at modern day riot police.
- even so... what may look like roman inspired tactics and equipment may be more along the line of a similar answer to a somewhat similar problem.
- though, the real threat for riot police is quite different than from ancient warfare. It has more to do with the throwing of incendiary devices, getting hit in the head by a stone, a single man being pulled into the crowd, etc. Bottom line: there is very little risk of facing a barbarian horde or Macedonian phalanx intent on defeating you head on.
- Symmetrically, the sort of physical trauma that using roman army "tactics" and equipment might cause is, thank goodness, unacceptable nowaday in our countries. So typically no thrust to the face or guts, no shield-bashing (actually a little bit here in France, but it's limited by the shield grip), no javelin throwing before a charge, etc. Typically rioters will afterward complain about "slash" to the limbs, the use of tear-gas and pepper spray, the use of various type of concussion grenades, etc.
- And finally, one last remark about the shield. When looking at one, you probably ought to start with the grip. And most modern day police shield have a 2 point grip instead of a single central grip like the roman scutum. So they do have a somewhat similar shape, but obviously modern day police don't intend to use their shield in the same way as the roman armies. Its main function is definately defensive, it's meant to allow the police form to hold its position when facing projectils and a crowd trying to push through. I'd argue it functions more like an argive aspis than a roman one.
similar discussion available here:
http://www.romanarmytalk.com/thread-23502.html
Timothee.
