User:Msm0128

ROMAN SHIELD (SCUTUM) A large body shield that measures 2.5 ft. wide and 4 ft. tall. During the roman republic was oval shaped, but in later years of the first century AD a rectangular shape was then used. Scutum’s were usually painted with the insignia of the Army Unit, and was stored in a leather case which had the same insignia form pieces of leather sewn onto the face of the cover. In battle when Romans would charge their enemy the Roman soldiers would hold their shields in front of themselves, so that the force of impact would knock their enemy’s to the ground. Soldiers would often rest their scutum on the ground and fight from behind it while crouched. This would lower the soldier’s center of gravity, which would make it harder for them to be knocked off balance, and allow more of their body to be protected.