The Scutum

The scutum, or shield, was the main form of body protection of the Roman soldier. The arms and legs were commonly left unprotected. Greaves were known to be used on the lower legs, but they were usually reserved for higher ranking soldiers. A scutum served to deflect missile weapons as well as protect from hand held weapons and was designed to be large and light. When held away from the body, it could absorb or deflect arrows, sling stones, and javelins and reduce the chance that any such missiles could reach the soldier behind it. The large size of the scutum allowed the Romans soldiers to form the testudo or shield wall that could protect the ranks of soldiers from missiles during an advance. Roman tactics dictated that soldiers remain in close ranks in hand-to-hand fighting, using the advantage of organized ranks to overcome larger numbers of disorganized enemies. Staying in rank was a matter of life and death, since dissolving into small groups of fighting soldiers would allow larger numbers of enemies to use the numerical advantage against them. Breaking rank in combat was punishable by death, since it endangered your fellow soldiers and eventually lose the battle. Most soldiers were killed in retreating or fleeing from an organized enemy, and this concept was well know to the Romans. The scutum varied in dimensions, but was generally standardized by the military reforms instituted by Marius. This scutum is made up of laminated birch wood, with a layer of leather on each face, and a layer of painted linen on the front surface. The back of the scutum is painted. The edges are lined with bronze and secured with iron clench nails. Rawhide was also used for protecting the edges and was stitched along the edge. Reinforcement strips of hardwood or iron are nailed to the back of the scutum in order to give the light shield more stiffness. The central horizontal stiffener also forms the handle. The curvature of the scutum varied from very shallow to very deep, as this scutum is curved. A deeper curvature served to deflect missiles to either side more easily, between the ranks of soldiers instead of impacting directly into them. Often, a leather shield cover was made and placed over the scutum to protects it from moisture and minor damage during traveling.