What does the a legionary shield (ancient roman shield) reveal about life in ancient rome?
The Roman Scutum (Square Shield) actually reveals nothing about life in Ancient Rome. It was a piece of military equipment employed by the Roman Army to protect its soldiers. The standard Legionniary tactic was to induce the opponent to take a large overhand strike with a sword or axe and get it stuck in the Scutum. While the opponent tried to pull his weapon out, the Roman soldier would stab his opponent in the chest with the Gladius (Roman Short Sword, believed to be developed from Spanish swords after the Roman conquest of Spain). It was a shield, nothing more nothing less, and was not altogehter new in history. The Macadonians and Ancient Greeks all used shields for their soldiers. The only major differece is the design of the Scutum in comparison, and most times the materials used to construct it. You could say it revealed that Rome was one, fairly militaristic, and two, highly intelligent in the use of its army, but looking at an individual Scutum wouldn’t be able to tell you tha
