Roman shields
The Roman scutum (shield) is a large sturdy curved-rectangle formed from three sheets of glued wood covered with canvas and leather, a round metal boss (umbo) over the hand-grip recess, and weighing about 10 kg. The best surviving example, from Dura-Europos in Syria, was 105 x 41 cm, with a curvature 30 cm deep.
The scutum is light enough to be held in one hand and its large size covers the entire soldier providing good protection against sword blows and arrow fire. The metal boss and shield-edges can be used offensively to strike at the enemy, besides providing protection to an outreached sword arm. It is balanced so that a soldier can lean in his shoulder as powerful push against the boss to drive the enemy back. The scutum is used together with the gladius sword for defense and offence. Working in unison the legionary shield formations include the shield-wall, orbis (circle of shields facing outwards), vallum (crouching shield wall advancing against missile weapons) and testudo (tortoise, as moving protective formation, often against city walls).
The scutum is light enough to be held in one hand and its large size covers the entire soldier providing good protection against sword blows and arrow fire. The metal boss and shield-edges can be used offensively to strike at the enemy, besides providing protection to an outreached sword arm. It is balanced so that a soldier can lean in his shoulder as powerful push against the boss to drive the enemy back. The scutum is used together with the gladius sword for defense and offence. Working in unison the legionary shield formations include the shield-wall, orbis (circle of shields facing outwards), vallum (crouching shield wall advancing against missile weapons) and testudo (tortoise, as moving protective formation, often against city walls).
 Downtown Queen Street Santa Parade
Parade shields of Legio VI are used for show displays and long parade marches. They are lightweight, can be carried on a shoulder strap and have brass-edging with good quality decoration. We have adopted a black and gold design of a victory wreath and the she-wolf emblem of Rome.
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 Armistice Cambridge vallum formation against archers
Combat shields of Legio VI are heavyweight, designed to take sword blows, arrow fire, and a regular battering. Many are of the same design as our sister club Legio X and were manufactured by Darryl Thomas. They have rawhide-edging and are constantly patched and repaired.
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Various combat shield designs adapted from Trajan's Column and Roman frescoes or mosaic designs.
