10-08-2004, 07:33 AM
Robert,<br>
I shall not climb stupidly to a soap-box and start lecturing on what late Romans did or did not but, in my opinion a shield (unless intended for combat sports or display purposes, i.e. that belonging to a high ranker) was for the soldiers an item as expendable as a spear or a plumbata. If it had 'seen' action a couple of times, probably the most sensible choice would be to strip the metal fittings from the battered board and to order a new one. Therefore, not much decoration apart from the frontal shield blazon should be expected...<br>
Anyway, there were units that didn't engage battle for years and, of course, the soldier could probably paint what he pleased at the back of his shield!<br>
<br>
Jeffrey,<br>
Here goes a [url=http://icon.stoa.org/gallery/album53/Hinton_St_Mary_Mosaic_P7270034?full=1" target="top]link[/url] to the central image at the Hinton-St. Mary (Dorset, England) mosaic. Probably the earliest depiction of Jesus (Fourth century?) in Western art.<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
I shall not climb stupidly to a soap-box and start lecturing on what late Romans did or did not but, in my opinion a shield (unless intended for combat sports or display purposes, i.e. that belonging to a high ranker) was for the soldiers an item as expendable as a spear or a plumbata. If it had 'seen' action a couple of times, probably the most sensible choice would be to strip the metal fittings from the battered board and to order a new one. Therefore, not much decoration apart from the frontal shield blazon should be expected...<br>
Anyway, there were units that didn't engage battle for years and, of course, the soldier could probably paint what he pleased at the back of his shield!<br>
<br>
Jeffrey,<br>
Here goes a [url=http://icon.stoa.org/gallery/album53/Hinton_St_Mary_Mosaic_P7270034?full=1" target="top]link[/url] to the central image at the Hinton-St. Mary (Dorset, England) mosaic. Probably the earliest depiction of Jesus (Fourth century?) in Western art.<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.
Rolf Steiner
Rolf Steiner
