Late Roman shields

[Julianus Flavius]

Ok, I was watching the film 'King Arthur' (don't laugh, it was actually rather historically accurate - no square scuctums ot LS to be seen) last night and the saxons got shot at and they formed a shieldwall to block the arrows, which promptly went through the gaps in the shields because said shields were circular. Obviously it's easier to make circular shields than square/rectangular ones, but wouldn't it be just as hard to make a oblong convex shield as it would be to make the 'traditional' legionary scuctum?
What caused the shift to what is essentially an inferior piece of equipment?

[Valentinian Victor]

Ok, I was watching the film 'King Arthur' (don't laugh, it was actually rather historically accurate - no square scuctums ot LS to be seen) last night and the saxons got shot at and they formed a shieldwall to block the arrows, which promptly went through the gaps in the shields because said shields were circular. Obviously it's easier to make circular shields than square/rectangular ones, but wouldn't it be just as hard to make a oblong convex shield as it would be to make the 'traditional' legionary scuctum?
What caused the shift to what is essentially an inferior piece of equipment?

Actually, the Late Roman Oval shields were made of flat, solid planks, not convex. They were easy to mass produce, which suited the army of the age which numbered over 600,000 strong by the time of Valentinian and Valens. They were no longer held by one hand behind the boss in the center, but art work shows them as having two strap, one behind the boss, the other near the center right side of the shield. The shield could be used both defensively and offensively and was probably reintroduced as a cost saving measure.

[Joar]

Ok, I was watching the film 'King Arthur' (don't laugh, it was actually rather historically accurate - no square scuctums ot LS to be seen) last night...

"Rather historically accurate"!?

Isn't that a bit like saying that the Lord of the Rings is rather historically accurate...

[ray243]

"Rather historically accurate"!?

Isn't that a bit like saying that the Lord of the Rings is rather historically accurate...

He's talking about the armour worn by the Roman infantry.

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

This might be of interest:

http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/vie...p?f=17&t=28102

As for the Arthur film, the less said the better . . .