Ancients => defend yourself!! => show me your shields!!

Yes, the epitome, absolutely (and for me an opportunity to learn a new word in english as I never met any epitome so far )

Q

 

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And to finish with, a Commodus sestertius that I no longer have but is worthy of posting in this thread (well IMHO at least), showing numerous shields and stuff on reverse :

Commodus, Sestertius
IMP L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM, laureate and draped bust right
TRP II COS P P, DE GERMANIS at exergue, SC in field, pile of military arms
23.66 gr
RCV # 5740, Cohen # 79, scarce

Q

 

Love that reverse, Q! It's one I haven't seen yet.

 

Of course greek had shields too, not just roman, but I don't hold as many of them :

Bruttium, AE26
Brettian league, c. 215-205 BC
Head of Ares left
BPETTIWN, Hera Hoplosmia going right, holding spear and shield, cow's head ? under shield
14.44 gr, 26 mm
Ref : Sear #702v

Although this bronze has a lot of wear, the patina and toning are fabulous I think

Q

 

ahahaha => glad to be of service, Cucumbor ...



"Epitome" => A representative or perfect example of a class or type!!

[Latin epitom, a summary, from Greek, an abridgment, from epitemnein, to cut short]

 

The dudes just protecting the family jewels (if I had the audacity to go to a fight naked, I suppose I would protect my most important assets too).

 

Huh? ... well, I kinda think that running naked at your enemy might buy you that all-important split-second of time?!!

=> what the f? ....... yup, he wouldn't know what hit him!! (well, I didn't mean that I'd hit him with that!! ... geeessh, hopefully you know what I mean)

 

I just got so tickled I spewed my soda out my nose.

 

SILVER Denarius of 211 B.C.

 

I heard the barbarians were big on shields too...

Athalaric, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE Decanummium
Obv: INVICT-A ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right
Rev: DN ATHAL-ARICVS, Athalaric, in military outfit, standing, holding spear and shield, S-C across fields, X in left field
Mint: Rome, struck 526-534 AD
Ref: BMC 69, COI 85b

 

I think shields are mostly used for riot control now days.

 

Yeah, and they've kept alive the old testudo formation as well.

 

I love the first scenes in the movie The Eagle where the testudo is used. The rest of the movie is just so-so.

 

Here is a Korean riot control training exercise where they use shields and some Roman techniques but no testudo.