09-09-2005, 09:26 AM
Hello All,
I was recently looking through my "Warfare in the Classical World" by John Warry and I came across the section on Scutums on page 148. He shows two scutums with curved sides that have the top and bottom flat but, one has a wooden spindle shaped boss (covered with a metal reinforcing plate) and the other a metal/bronze one. I was wondering if anyone could give me further information as to when these were in use, the weight of each, any pictures of reconstructions, and where evidence has been found for each of these? Mr. Warry mentions that the wooden boss version was in use c 10 B.C. and that it survived in service until after 175 A.D. The Iron/bronze boss version appeared c 20 A.D. and by 100 A.D. it was almost universal. I was wondering if these are accurate dates or if someone may have better information as to when these were in use with the Legions? I dont believe I have ever seen anything with the wooden bossed shield being depicted so if anyone could provide some links about them then it would be greatly appreciated.
I was also wondering what type of shield may be more accurate for the Legions of the Claudian invasion of Briton and the Boudicca revolt? Would any one of these be more accurate then the other or is there evidence for the straight sided scutum being the predominate shield for that area and time? Does anyone have good evidence that the curved sided ones were still in use with the Legions during the 100 A.D. - 200 A.D. time frame?
Thank you all so much for all your time and help! I look forward to the replies!
Brett
I was recently looking through my "Warfare in the Classical World" by John Warry and I came across the section on Scutums on page 148. He shows two scutums with curved sides that have the top and bottom flat but, one has a wooden spindle shaped boss (covered with a metal reinforcing plate) and the other a metal/bronze one. I was wondering if anyone could give me further information as to when these were in use, the weight of each, any pictures of reconstructions, and where evidence has been found for each of these? Mr. Warry mentions that the wooden boss version was in use c 10 B.C. and that it survived in service until after 175 A.D. The Iron/bronze boss version appeared c 20 A.D. and by 100 A.D. it was almost universal. I was wondering if these are accurate dates or if someone may have better information as to when these were in use with the Legions? I dont believe I have ever seen anything with the wooden bossed shield being depicted so if anyone could provide some links about them then it would be greatly appreciated.
I was also wondering what type of shield may be more accurate for the Legions of the Claudian invasion of Briton and the Boudicca revolt? Would any one of these be more accurate then the other or is there evidence for the straight sided scutum being the predominate shield for that area and time? Does anyone have good evidence that the curved sided ones were still in use with the Legions during the 100 A.D. - 200 A.D. time frame?
Thank you all so much for all your time and help! I look forward to the replies!
Brett
