How did Roman cavalry carry their shields?

[bachmat66]

salve,
would Roman cavalrymen carrying spear and bow use a wicker shield ( like later Saracen, Persian, Turkish, Tatar, Polish etc midium cavalry)?
They are somewhat connical (convex) in shape, deflect projectiles well and were very light yet sturdy (with a metal umbo in the middle).
How about leather-rawhide shields a la American prarrie nomads in the 17-19th centuries (who got the idea from the Spanish presidial adarga lancers), these were small 45-60cm, convex (like Eurasian steppe models although not so pronounced), carried with a long strap and actually not held with a hand but hung underneath the left arm or their back. They used 12-14 feet lances and bows and were able thus armed and protected to swing from one side of their galloping mount to the other with ease, and even fire arrows from underneath the horse's neck or over its back - visual sources come from eg Catlin paintings and drawings, especially druing his US dragoon expedition to the Comanches. eg http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/forts ... cat167.jpg
ps
!John - great horsemanship!

[John Conyard]

Well I'm a bit old to be a Roman cavalryman and just try and stay up right in the saddle. :oops:

We have evidence for Roman shields from various sites. By the 4th century they seem to be made of planks, edged and covered in various thickness' of leather and parchment. The shape and size leads us to all sorts of interpretations. There are threads on this site already dealing with Roman shields.

[garrelt]

Following this topic, I'm curious how shields in general were carried.
Cavalry and/or infantry.

Archeology gives us horizontal and vertical central placed grips.
At least looking at publications of surviving shields.
Original pictorial evidence, like Trajans column also show a more "greek, late medieval" off center strap/grip combination.