Do any Roman shields still exist?
This is the only known surviving example of the semicylindrical shield known as a scutum, used by Roman legionaries and known from literary sources. Found flattened, in thirteen pieces, and missing its umbo (central boss), the shield was reconstructed by the Yale-French excavation team.
What do the symbols on Roman shields mean?
Each legion had their own symbol on their shields, to show who was their leader and the group they fought for. power. It was used to show Caesar won a battle at Thapsus and beat an elephant charge. crown to show power and victory.
What designs were on Roman shields?

Shield designs Some shields also had a wreath painted on them. The wreath symbolises victory. Shields also sometimes had scenes of myths or famous battles on them. The soldiers who lived at Segedunum Fort were auxiliary soldiers.
What were Scutums made of?
The scutum was a 10-kilogram (22 lb) large rectangle curved shield made from three sheets of wood glued together and covered with canvas and leather, usually with a spindle shaped boss along the vertical length of the shield.
Why did the Romans stop using square shields?
The Scutum was discontinued because around the 3rd century AD the Roman Legions were mostly made up of Auxilia. This created more “barbarian” influence in the Legions. Eventually the Roman Legionary began to look more like a Germanic warrior instead of what most people think of when they hear the term Roman soldier.

What are the Roman symbols?
The Symbols The Roman numeral system uses only seven symbols: I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. I represents the number 1, V represents 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500, and M is 1,000. Different arrangements of these seven symbols represent different numbers.
Why are Roman shields curved?
It was a rigid form of fighting and its maneuverability was limited. The small shields provided less protection. However, their smaller size afforded more mobility. Their round shape enabled the soldiers to interlock them to hold the line together.
Did Romans use Bucklers?
So it was clearly considered to be of military importance to Romans. The Byzantine usage of the buckler has an unbroken line with Roman usage, as the Byzantines were in all things the inheritors of Roman military tradition.
What makes a good Roman shield?
Roman shields were made of sheets of wood glued together to make the curved shape. They were usually painted red and decorated, often with lightning bolts or eagles’ wings.
How can my class design their own Roman shield?
Your class can design their very own Roman shield using the template whilst following the instructions on how to make it using this informational pack . It’s a great activity for children to do as it encourages creativity in the classroom.
How many Roman shield photos are available royalty-free?
17,845 roman shield stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free.
What did Roman shields look like?
They were slightly curved, a bit like part of a cyclinder, so that they would stand up. Roman shields were made of sheets of wood glued together to make the curved shape. They were usually painted red and decorated, often with lightning bolts or eagles’ wings.
What are some popular design elements for a shield?
Some popular design elements are wings, griffins and leaf-like patterns. Print a template off the internet and make it a guide for a stencil you can use to spray paint your design on for a clean finish. Create your own original design in the same style as traditional Roman weapon-works for a personalized shield.