shield shape

[Opifex]

Hmm. 60cm is just under 24" (2.54cm= 1 inch) That's about what I had in mind, so my guess wasn't far off of the real thing.

I've used both vertical and horizontal grips in mock combat, and for carrying longish distances. I highly prefer the horizontal, since the hand is able to relax more while walking with the horizontal.

...

You are absolutely right. the Horizontal is much better for carrying.

But as the gladiators did not want to carry their shields for a bigger distance then the end of the arena. If you hold the Thracian shield in a fight position, than you your elbow is behind the shield if the grip is vertical. But your elbow hits the edge (side or inner side) of the shield if the grip is horizontal. And during the fights you can not keep your shield in a good position. If anybody would like to try, then come to our training camp. :twisted: It is because you have to pull the Parma up to your belly, not like a Scutum what you hold with an almost straight elbow.

Opifex

[M. Demetrius]

Thanks, Opifex,
That makes perfect sense. On the march, horizontal, for the competition, vertical. That elbow observation sold me on that.

I think the easy way to make a vertical grip without a boss would be to mount a wood block at top and bottom of the grip, and cross the gap with a metal crossbar. Probably the top wood should be shaped like the knuckle a little bit, too, and wrapped in leather.

In any event, the plane of the handle should be at the center of gravity of the shield, seems to me. And it could be fastened with small nails and glue before covering the wood on the face, so nothing shows on the outside of the shield. No need for rivets.

Vespa

[Martin Moser]

Hi Opifex,

I think that some of the thracian shields hade boss as well. Please find below some mosaics and statues as the base of my shield.
Please tell me if I am wrong, as we try to be 100% authentic.
http://opifex.ingyenweb.hu/keret.cgi?/g ... thrak1.jpg
http://opifex.ingyenweb.hu/keret.cgi?/g ... thrak2.jpg
http://opifex.ingyenweb.hu/keret.cgi?/g ... thrak3.jpg
http://opifex.ingyenweb.hu/keret.cgi?/g ... thrak4.jpg

pic no1, left figure, is not a Thraex, but a Murmillo fighting a Hoplomachus IMHO - look at the leg armor of the left figure, he has neither the trouser-like padding nor the 2 high greaves!

pic no2, left figure, yes, I know that one and it could be a shield boss, but could just as well only be color, guess we can't be sure either way.

pic no3 - yes that looks indeed like a normal, round shield boss

pic no4 - the most definite proof of a shield boss or, spine, rather. If you think about it, a spine also makes more sense in terms of construction if you go for a vertical grip.

Thanks for sharing those! Do you know of any datings for those?

@ Demetrius: Out of personal experience, I can only second what Opifex has said about horizontal vs. vertical shield grips!