01-30-2011, 05:52 AM
From what I've seen it apears that most Germanic reenactment groups prefer the cone-shaped iron bosses, though a wooden 'spine' boss thrown in there once in a while deffinately helps add to the authenticity of a Germanic warband.
Re: Tacitus's claim about the Germans not using reenforcing on their shields. According to Osprey Publishing's 'Rome and Her Enemies', the claim made by Tacitus was orgininally part of an 'eve-of-battle' speech made by Germanicus to his troops. Germanicus was trying to bolster the moral of his troops, so he would have been trying to make the Germans sound as primitive as possible. Therefore, we cannot accept this claim as being accurate. According to this book, the Germanic tribes also have shields with a "...a prominent projecting boss and iron or bronze edging." (p 211)
Re: Tacitus's claim about the Germans not using reenforcing on their shields. According to Osprey Publishing's 'Rome and Her Enemies', the claim made by Tacitus was orgininally part of an 'eve-of-battle' speech made by Germanicus to his troops. Germanicus was trying to bolster the moral of his troops, so he would have been trying to make the Germans sound as primitive as possible. Therefore, we cannot accept this claim as being accurate. According to this book, the Germanic tribes also have shields with a "...a prominent projecting boss and iron or bronze edging." (p 211)
Dan Dalby
Group Leader Project Germani
Germanic Tribes of the 1st. cen. BCE to the 1st cen. CE
Group Leader Project Germani
Germanic Tribes of the 1st. cen. BCE to the 1st cen. CE
