Why did the scutum have a horizontal grip?

[Shinyhead]

I have seen references to the carry strap on a shield and it makes me wonder if (as has been suggested to me) that they *might* have fought with the strap over the shoulder. It means to me that you could go from holding the shield "up" to pushing it "out" with the strap taking weight. It also means to swing the shield around you are swinging it on the strap and not moving it with your arm/shoulder so much.

Just some pre coffee thoughts, so take them for what they are worth (brain fog and all).

I will be mounting a horizontal grip and strap to my fighting scuta this weekend and doing some practice with it. I will let you know my thoughts after I have used it that way.