Roman Legionary Shield ("Scutum")

sketchfab

A model of a Roman Imperial legionary shield, known as a “scutum,” that I made for the “Medieval Engineers” 3D software / game. The curved-front scutum was standard equipment for Roman legionaries from the 1st Century BC through the early 3rd Century AD. Its versatility as both defensive and (if need be) offensive weapon made it a valuable resource. Made from multiple thin wooden plies to be lightweight, painted on the front in a variety of patterns (some known from Trajan’s Column), rimmed by (usually) brass, and with a sturdy central boss. 3 are known to have survived to the present day, though all have required various amounts of restoration and reconstruction.