scuta dimensions—what do YOU think they should be?

[Peroni]

The fighting position and stance should also be considered. Look at the Mainz pedastal reliefs which show soldiers in a somewhat crouched stance.

This would make the requirement for 'neck-to-knee' length a lot shorter surely? It would not need to be neck to knee if the man is standing up straight.

Matt wrote...

I don't have the actual and implied dimensions of that on hand at the moment, though.

Carol Van Driel Murray believes the original board was curved, with a width in the region of 64cm (quite typical for shield cover finds for NW Europe) The length of the board is unknown.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

My Augustan is about 42" too. Gives good coverage too!

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

This post has been removed by the author. I do not see a point to being on a forum where moderators such as Matt Lanteigne aka Magnus can practice harassment and hypocritical behavior. RAT seems to have slipped into a place where people of this ilk can do or say whatever they want AND since he's a moderator, I guess it's all okay w/ the forum owners. Good luck, but I am done here.

[Matthew Amt]

The fighting position and stance should also be considered. Look at the Mainz pedastal reliefs which show soldiers in a somewhat crouched stance.

This would make the requirement for 'neck-to-knee' length a lot shorter surely? It would not need to be neck to knee if the man is standing up straight.

No, the size theory has to do with the shield slung on the back for the march. Any lower and the legs bump the bottom edge. Any higher and it runs into the pack pole. Marching is eternal, but battles are rare.

Back in the Republic, soldiers could toss their big oval shields on wagons or have slaves carry them, so they could be taller. So it does seem quite likely that it was under Marius that the shorter styles came into use.

Thanks for the Caerleon cover info, by the way!

Valete,

Matthew