Scutum from Dura-Europos mid-3rd century A.D.

[Paul Elliott]

Lucky thing!

[Caratacus]

A bit off-topic, but I was curious...what are the origins of the Scythica legion? I would assume from the name that they began as a Danube legion, but I could be wrong.

According to Lawrence Keppie ("The Making of the Roman Army from Republic to Empire"), legio IIII Scythica was formed before AD 30 and that the name may have reflected a victory over the Scythians. Pollard & Berry ("The Complete Roman Legions") report that the legion served for most of its existence in Roman Syria and before that campaigned in Macedonia and the Balkans in general. Their Eastern service included the 1st Jewish War and the siege of Jerusalem, Trajan's Parthian campaign and the campaigns of both Caracalla and Severus Alexander against the Persians. They seem to have remained based in Northern Syria (close to the regional capital, Antioch - at Zeugma, in modern-day Turkey) until the late 3rd century at least. The Notitia Dignitata shows them based in the 4th century AD further SE at Oresa.

In other words, it doesn't look like they served or were raised along the Danube.

Mike Thomas
(Caratacus)

[Rado]

A bit off-topic, but I was curious...what are the origins of the Scythica legion? I would assume from the name that they began as a Danube legion, but I could be wrong.

Travis your question is really off topic. http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/iiii_scythica.html

[Rado]

Caratacus that what you write in connection with IIII SCYTHICA : “In other words, it doesn't look like they served or were raised along the Danube.” is ..ridiculous. I would kindly advise you to get know more precisely the historical sources ,in another more appropriate topic.

[ROMan]

Caratacus that what you write in connection with IIII SCYTHICA : “In other words, it doesn't look like they served or were raised along the Danube.” is ..ridiculous. I would kindly advise you to get know more precisely the historical sources ,in another more appropriate topic.

Well Caratacus *was* quoting a respectable source, and it was answering a query from another poster. Personally, I actually would like to hear your evidence for this Syrian-based legion coming from the Danube, as it would greatly facilitate my using Danubian material in my impression of a Dura-Europos soldier!

[Rado]

Tiro you desire from me evidence that the IIII -th was located along the Roman Limes in Middle and Lower Danube? I have some of them ..As well as articles from scientific publications from leading Bulgarian and Serbian archaeologists .But this topic has nothing to do with it! period the 1st century A.D. has nothing to do with this shield.Between 6 and 9 CE, IIII Scythica was active in the wars of Tiberius (the future emperor) against the Illyrians and Pannonians on the Middle Danube. During the reign of Nero, the legion was transferred to the east.
http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/iiii_scythica.html

[Rado]

The new third century equipment in our club. I think that our Dura-Europos Scutum is very well recreated (it was produced in your club). Of course improvements on our third century equipment continues..

[Paul Elliott]

Well done Rado, nice kit. I do like the belts and baldrics.

[Rado]

Here is our version of the Scutum of our club ,mid-3rd century A.D. Dura-Europos. Thickness of 10 mm.two sheets glued with 5 mm . it is heavy exactly 5 kg. Width 80 cm height 105 cm. Of course, there is much to be desired in its maximum authenticity. But our replication (at this moment) is a schematic representation of the picture and we do not claim that this is an exact replica of a museum exhibit.This is a copy which will be very suitable about battles and reenactment.



It is not a problem for us to get closer to the original image ,but it would be prohibitively expensive and it would be probably suitable only for museum exhibitions with replicas examples.

[Rado]

Our new improved model of our Scutum from Dura-Europos . I have made many improvements in the drawings (from the first model). I even counted the waves from above and from below, as indeed from the left and right . Оf course it is difficult to imitate ancient master ,almost impossible. But this level of similarity I think that is quite enough for quality 3rd century Roman re-enacting.
Thickness of 1 cm.it is heavy exactly 5 kg.Width 80 cm height 105 cm.Everything is made in to our club,with the exception of brass umbones .Scuta Umbo are the product of Deepeeka.