XXX ulpia shield design 2nd century

[1493541]

Salvete Omnes!

For my first thread I want to bring up the topic of shield designs.
I plan on making a scutum and my favorite legion is xxx ulpia, and I would like to have some guidelines on how to paint it for that legion. I know that most evidence of shield designs points to wings and lightning bolts, but I am sceptic all that that much effort would be put in to standard shields. I own Dando-Collins's book and I feel the shield emblem for the 30th is more of an artistic rendering. I plan on reprinting the shield to reenactment legion specifications if I join one. Your help is mech appreciated.
Gratias Tibi

[Nathan Ross]

The speculative designs shown in the recent Dando-Collins book are based on legion coin images - there's no evidence that these were used as shield designs. See this thread here... ;-)

The 'wings and thunderbolt' designs turns up in a variety of representations throughout the first and early second centuries (assuming that's the period you're interested in) - Trajan's column shows about nine variations of it. If sculptors could be bothered to carve this complex design into stone so often, we can be fairly sure that legionaries actually did use it, probably in much easier painted form!

The second most common shield pattern for this era seems to have been the victory wreath. Sometimes this was combined with the thunderbolt... No particular design is known for XXX UV, so you could take your pick.

[1493541]

Thank you! I think I will paint a victory wreath.