Late Roman Shields Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Discussion about late Roman shields: construction, decoration, and usage.
• Comparison with the famous Roman scutum (curved, convex rectangle).
• Late Imperial shields were ovular or circular.
• Aim: Broad introductory baseline on late Roman shields; understudied area.

Challenges in Studying Late Roman Shields

• Limited evidence for the late imperial period compared to modern conflicts.
  • Abundance of texts, photos in modern wars vs. limited ancient materials.
• Organic materials like wood, leather decay over time; less surviving evidence.
• Some ancient metals corrode, lack of clarity in how equipment looked.
• Texts from antiquity are rare due to decay and loss.
• Artworks might not accurately depict realism; used for entertainment or storytelling.

Defining the Late Roman Empire

• Late Roman Empire: 4th century to early 5th century (around 425-435).
• Period marked by political fragmentation and barbarian kingdoms.

Early Roman Shield Development

• Antonine Era: Era of the Five Good Emperors (96-192 AD).
  • Changes in military equipment: body armor, swords, helmets, shields.
  • Lack of archaeological evidence; reliance on artwork for shield designs.
  • Auxiliaries used ovular shields; legionaries continued with scutum.

Crisis of the Third Century

• Shields began changing during this period.
• Evidence from various Roman sites along the Danube, Rhine, Britain.
• Dura-Europos: Key archaeological site with preserved shields.
  • Four types of shields: large ovular without boss, wicker construction, plank method shields, traditional scutum.
  • Provides insights into shield construction and battlefield effectiveness.

Late Imperial Period Shield Characteristics

• Adoption of barbarian-esque equipment in Roman armies.
• Artwork and texts suggest round, plank-construction shields.
• Some shields used gesso or leather facing; Christian iconography for decoration.
• Jesus as a symbol of protection and strength.

Reasons for Shield Design Changes

• Barbarian equipment had a mystique; possibly more efficient production.
• Easier and faster to produce plank-construction shields.
• Mass production in state-run military factories.
• Roman shields varied based on the unit and soldier’s function.

Conclusion

• Late Roman shields were diverse in design and purpose.
• Importance of understanding the variety and function of shields in historical context.
• Encourages further study and examination of different types of Roman shields.