All categories
Featured selections
Trade Assurance
Buyer Central
Help Center
Get the app
Become a supplier
(834 products available)
Ready to Ship
The round roman shield, known as the scutum, was an essential part of a Roman legionary's equipment. Several variations existed due to their purpose and size, sometimes narrowly differing from each other. In most cases, the differences were in the shield's diameter and curvature.
Nevertheless, the core Roman design remained largely constant throughout the Republic and Empire eras. The overall form was highly effective in combat and defence situations, serving the primary function of safeguarding and protection from missiles and melee attacks. The scutum shields were some of the first to use the convex form to deflect the opponent's weaponry effectively. In addition to this feature, the shields also provided a large surface area for protection, allowing for offensive actions while defending the bearer. The convex shape helps deflect blows and projectiles away from the body.
The rounded type of scutum was primarily used as a defensive and offensive tool in the legions of the Roman army during the early history of the empire. It was particularly effective in the famed "tortoise" formations. The curved design allowed for better deflection of projectiles, and the larger surface area could cover the soldier's body securely. Regardless of the specific type of round shield, all were designed for versatile combat, affording protection during the many evolving battle tactics of Rome.
The design of the Roman shields further illustrates how advanced Roman military engineering was for its time. The scutum was not only designed to be tough and protective, but also a very well thought out piece of defensive equipment that helped the soldier win many beatings. A closer evaluation of the distinct circular Roman shields is shared below.
Material.
The typical Roman army shield, the scutum, at the least, was made of wood, and iron and bronze were used for the rims and boss, i.e., the centre dome feature of the shield. The wooden construction allowed the shield to be strong but relatively light. The boss was typically made from metal and was important in reinforcing the centre of the shield. This featured also allowed the soldier to strike an opponent with the boss without losing his balance or damaging the shield. The materials used in the design of the shield ensured that while the shields were not heavy and burdensome, they were still efficient in protecting the soldiers from any type of attack.
Size and shape.
Roman shields come in different general shapes and forms. However, this characteristic made them suitable for different types of warfare. The size of the shield meant that veterans could defend a large part of their body while still being able undertake any offensive movements with their weapons. For example, during the siege of Jerusalem, Pompey made use of a large rounded-shaped shield which was good for defending while afforoding space for attack.
Handles and grip.
To aid and enable easy handling, scutum's shields had internal straps and handles. The central grip, called the "grip," was usually made of wood or ropes that connected the shield's body to the straps. It allowed the Roman soldier to maneuver the shield effectively while keeping it tightly secured during movement or in combat. This feature was very important in enabling the soldier to always keep the shield tightly secured even while moving or in combat.
The rim and rim of the shield.
The rim of the Roman shield was also very important since it ensured that the shield held out and was durable enough during combat. The metal rims helped prevent the wooden shield from splintering due to heavy hits and made it last longer in a fight. This feature was also important because many of the Roman army's victories were won through the strategic use of well-made and durable weapons.
The Roman roundshield was not only used to guard one's self but was also combined with the legion's weapons to attack the opponents. While protecting oneself from blows constructively, the Roman soldiers could strike at their enemy.
Combination with weapons.
Roman soldiers also struck at their enemies by using the shield while defending themselves. He would employ a javelin, 'pilum,' at first, a spear that Romans used and equipped with the pugnus and then try to stab his enemies with a short sword called a 'gladius' after throwing the javelins. The combination of the shield and spear was especially useful in letting the enemy strike him from a distance before closing in for hand-to-hand fighting.
Defensive formations.
Round roman shields were very helpful in maintaining the famed Roman military formation known as the 'tortoise' formation. In this formation, the legionaries would stand next to one another in lines, each holding their shields up to protect themselves from the blows and missiles that were raining down on them from their enemies. The design of the scutum allowed for maximum coverage and minimum gaps, making it a very hard formation for the enemies to break apart.
Individual defence.
On an individual basis, the round Roman Shield was used to block arrows, spears, and swords, which made it a central defensive implement in warfare. The convex shape helped deflect incoming projectiles away from the body and thus afforded the soldier a degree of freedom to move and fight in a very hostile environment.
Waterproof material - The ancient Roman round shield was an impressive piece of engineering that significantly helped the Romans in their military conquests. Yet, to fully understand the differences that exist with the wooden type of Roman shields, it is important to look closely at the characteristics of the waterproof-round Roman shields first. The primary material that made up this type of scutum was a thin wooden frame that formed a very tough base that was subsequently covered in either leather or woven cane or at other times in metal or iron. The principal advantage of such waterproofing was that regardless of the weather, particularly in the rain, which would have made fighting very difficult, the Romans would have had very sturdy shields.
Wooden shields. - The main feature of the traditional round Roman shields was wood. Mainly, wood made from glued wooden boards due to its elasticity and toughness was used to make the centre of the shield. Wood was overlaid with leather on top, which further kept the wood from rain and water, thus preventing it from warping and weakening. Wooden-round Roman shields were also very light, hence easy to maneuver, and were very effective during the conquests of the Romans.
Ultimately, the shield that was either waterproof or wooden had its pros and cons. Whereas the waterproof shield was heavy and cumbersome to carry, it did not allow for ease of movement and, generally, of operation in warfare, regardless of the weather that day, while the wooden shield was light but, in most cases, susceptible to damage due to wetness when not protected. Nevertheless, they both designed rounded shape scutum shields formed vital roles in securing the Romans throughout many of their military achievements.
When choosing a Roman shield, various factors must be considered to optimise their performance on the battlefield. A closer look at these varies is given below:
Material quality.
Since the shield is represented from wood and metal, whatever material of which it is formed should be of the greatest quality. The great scutum would be constructed from the lightest and hardest of wood, such as plywood or hardwood, for optimal performance. This will make the scutum considerably less in weight while keeping the scutum's essence and strength. It should be noted that the materials that make up the shield determine the convenience and safety of the warrior.
Size and fit.
In light of this, we previously mentioned that the round Roman shields were made in different diameters. That said, select a shield with the right size for the body. Covers a larger area for defence, but it is heavier, so it covers more in attacks. A small shield is harder to move, but the disadvantage is that less space is available for defence.
Craftsmanship.
Since it is meant to be used in combat, there is a need to ensure that all parts of the shield are tightly bound together. Quality shields usually have tightly bound wood and securely bound rims. Pay attention to where the boss and shield meet since this is an ideal and good target for enemies. The craftsmanship determines how well the shield can withstand any form of attack from the enemy.
The rim.
The ring that binds the shield will allow it to last no matter the strikes that come in from the enemy. A strong rim signifies high endurance strength. Any Roman shield with metallic rims is well protected from splintering and also further protects the rim of the shield from further attack.
A1: The shield was vital to every Roman soldier as it allowed him to protect himself while moving and made possible the famous Roman fighting style: the use of the shield to keep a man safe as he advanced toward the enemy with his sword.
A2: The Roman roundshield was light and offered great flexibility in its use. It was particularly effective in the series of fighting techniques that the Romans used because of its little weight and the well-formed, rounded shape.
A3: To the Ancient Romans, the roundshield was a symbol of their military prowess and an important aspect of their shield wall formations. The effectiveness of these shields in protecting the soldiers and helping in formation warfare contributed to the rise of the Roman Empire and the fall of many civilisations that came against it.
A4: Today, the principles of the Roman scutum can be seen in modern martial arts shields and body armour due to its professional protective capabilities; thus, it is of a great interest to historians, military tacticians, and practitioners of martial arts.
