The Romans also used shield walls, this was in fact their standard fighting formation. The scutum (English: / ˈ s k uː t əm / SKOO-təm, Classical Latin: [ˈskuːtũː]; plural scuta) was a type of shield used among Italic peoples in antiquity, and then by the army of ancient Rome starting about the fourth century BC. During the viking age, most north Europeans used a type of shield wall. It was employed for the hoplite phalanx formation. The back rows of the soldiers would hold their shields above their heads. Posed by English guardsmen acting the part of Roman soldiers. The Romans adopted it when they switched from the military formation of the hoplite phalanx of the Greeks to the formation with maniples. Also known as the tortoise formation, it is still the most famous formation known about the Roman army. Facts about Roman Shields 5: clypeus. It was typically made from two sheets of wood that were glued together, then covered with canvas and leather. They served completely different purposes. The Roman shield, or scutum, was a central part of the soldier’s defense. Philip Rance, in the article I linked, argues quite strongly, though, that it should be seen as the evolution of the testudo instead. Roman soldier shields were used as part of the Roman army tactics to create an impenetrable barrier which lead to much of their success. This protected the soldiers from overhead projectiles. Roman Army Reenactment with photographs of battle formations, weaponry, shields, swords, standards, sandals, helmets, fighting. This involved the soldiers standing side by side in ranks. Facts about Roman Shields 4: the shape of Roman shields. When laying siege to a fort, they used a formation … Another formation was known as the pig's head. In the Roman history, the soldiers had carried a number of shields. Here, the front row of soldiers would hold their shields in front of them to protect soldiers from projectiles. The scutum of the first century was rectangular in shape and rounded on the ends. The wedge formation is a very old and very effective formation when employed correctly. And quite unsurprisingly, the Roman military system of this time was inspired by its more-advanced neighbor (and enemy) – the Etruscans. They fought with short swords, daggers for stabbing … They could be in rectangular, circular or oval. When surrounded, the Romans formed a square formation with interlocking shields. Just before contact with the enemy, the soldiers moved in very close together so that each man's shield helped to protect the man on his left. Historically used with cavalry, the formation involves a mass of troops in a triangular wedge with the tip charging at the enemy. Along with looking ridiculously cool, the formation was also so strong that it could double as a bridge. 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