all those soldiers for all that time and only a single shield to show for it!

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Crazy isn't it!

@stephenarnold5981

Ай бұрын

@@louisearchaeology Not really, only luck that anything made of natural materials survive. Of course there is no indication as to who it belongs to, or what they did etc. Something for us all to remember, no matter how precious we may think ourselves.

@paoloviti6156

Ай бұрын

​@@stephenarnold5981in truth it has been found other shields here and there mostly found in Israel and of course Egyp, but all broken and in pieces 🎉but also in England and Germany but the latter all rotten. Non have survived as this shield and so marvellously elaborately decorated! Thanks for sharing 👍 👍

@premierlitnant1570

9 күн бұрын

That have been found yet ! There might still be one or a few more preserved in a swamp

@brianchu3317

9 күн бұрын

Yes definitely! But remember all the equipment especially those made of metal are always recycled. For instance the battlefield equipment would’ve been collected by the victors and reuse with minor modifications or melted down for new armory.

so cool that one still survives today!

@WeimarAmerica

7 күн бұрын

Yes! Might there be more, somewhere...? Unearthed, as yet? *smiles

i love ancient history. there are still plenty of things to learn from cultures that existed thousands of years ago, and how they managed to make incredible wonders in building design

It curls around much more than I ever knew. Also the pattern and colors are absolutely gorgeous.

@user-fu9vj9ix3g

10 күн бұрын

Probably not in its orignal condition. It has obviously dried and curled. They were made of an early form of plywood having two plies, covered in leather or a type of canvas, then painted. It was common for a shield cover to also be carried - like a canvas or leather fitted cover with a draw string around the back side. The Romans were very disciplined in maintaining their gear.

@psychiatry-is-eugenics

10 күн бұрын

3:25

@WeimarAmerica

7 күн бұрын

It absolutely is magnificent! The restoration resulted in the curvature being more pronounced than originally; the unrestored, thirteen parts may not have been re-joinable exactly as before. A fairly easily explainable over-curvature of the shield's arch is likely one of the compromises that seemed, well, least bad. But still - wow! Gorgeous, yes.

@kyleanuar9090

7 күн бұрын

Original video said it was warped due to heat over time

@user-fu9vj9ix3g

4 күн бұрын

@@kyleanuar9090 It's hard to believe that anyone in the relics resto business would be so stupid as to allow something like this piece to become distorted to this degree. The presenter in this video is highly edited - and one edit occurs at 3:30 - while describing , very breifly, the flat condition the shield was found in. I doubt that any professional restorer of a Singular item like this would not have built a correctly curved tool jig to which the shield would be mounted for display.

Wow thats incredible.

I’m amazed at the beautiful decoration. I always thought their shields & things would be very utilitarianism

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Me too and I think most people did too, it's an amazing find that really changes your perception. Thank you for commenting!

@daxconnell7661

27 күн бұрын

even up to medieval times shields could be highly decorated

@seanbissett-powell5916

17 күн бұрын

It's clever psychology. You have to forget modern ideas and think yourself into their heads and (just as importantly) their enemies. Roman arms and armour were incredibly ornate, even for that time period. It conveyed the message that they could afford the best quality equipment on an overwhelming scale, and that the Roman Empire was so wealthy and powerful that it was better to submit now because they couldn't be beaten. In most cases, that was an accurate message - until the Third Century, even if they lost a battle they almost always won the war.

@Calligraphybooster

12 күн бұрын

The life of a soldier is usually 2% panic and 98% boredom, so there is probably some time to decorate a shield. Especially when you consider they didn’t have KZread at the time.

@user-fu9vj9ix3g

10 күн бұрын

There were in fact very little in th eway shields were painted - except that many had the soldiers place in his organization painted on it - like Legion name, Chort number, Century Number and Contuburneum. They may have had any citation earned by the carrier as well, but little in the way of "national" symbols, unless the rest of th eLegion had them. In such cases, individuials may have painted the same designs on their own shields. We don't even know if red was used universally, like hollywood shows. Same with their cloaks, which could have been of whatever color was available at the time the quartermaster ordered them for local mills. Roman combat boots ( they were not sandals) and shoes have been well documented, as there are a couple thousand survivng examples. From te examples, new re-creations have been made, and theyare th emost comfortable and healthy footwear ever devised - well draining, self fitting, quick drying, and produced by the millions where ever the Romans stopped and set up a town. Those guys went through them very quickly.

It always amazes me that ancient things like this survive. I am equally amazed that we can know accurately what things looked like with no known examples.

Thank you, Ms. Bedford! This is so fascinating, and so well presented! No wonder your video was so well received. A surviving leather shield, with the more valuable metal part missing, but with the surviving, discarded rest left for us to admire - a rags to treasure story. Thanks again!

Thank you for this!! I had NO idea one even still existed!!! Too cool!!😮😊

Amazing preservation work for essentially a plywood/leather shield with the colorful heraldry intact. Excellent informative video!⚓️⚔️

The artwork seems pretty intricate and nice compared to the typical lighting one we often see in depictions of these shields; does this suggest that it might have been owned by an officer or nobleman?

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Potentially! It'd be really interesting to compare it to other shield artwork examples. There are some designs that are specific to certain legions but we unfortunately don't know for this one.

@user-fu9vj9ix3g

10 күн бұрын

It may also be true that Hollywood simplifies certain aspects of gear as well, using the easiest to detail in large numbers.

These video Is very good, love from Italy🇮🇹 love the videos keep up the work

The most amazing piece for Roman military artifacts I’ve seen is a perfectly preserved military helmet crest at the Army Museum at Vindolanda on Hadrian’s Wall. Truly amazing that it survived through the centuries!

Really cool. Nice to see a young person not denying rome existed.

@artistjoh

7 күн бұрын

There are people stupid enough to think Rome did not exist? They presumably have never been to Italy.

@11moonshot

7 күн бұрын

hihihi!!

@rossmilner6780

7 күн бұрын

Give her time....she hasn't even got a nose ring yet, lol!

@mrshankerbillletmein491

7 күн бұрын

Do some say Rome never existed? Really?

@DLR300

7 күн бұрын

@@mrshankerbillletmein491Nothing would surprise me nowadays 🙄

There were svasticas on each corners! What did they mean?

@MrUniman609

10 күн бұрын

Swastikas are a very ancient symbol, still used in India and long before the Nazi's in Germany adopted it.

@11moonshot

7 күн бұрын

Mr Uniman is completely right! I too am (as a German...) interested in the long history of that perticular symbol! In Rome I found it on so many locations! (Mosaics, columns, ...) That precisely was the thought behind the decision to chose THAT MIGHTY SYMBOL for their movement and state... that should endure at least for a thousand years. (But thanks to brave allied soldiers that madness was stopped after only 12...) With greetings, Mike

@sjoormen1

7 күн бұрын

@@MrUniman609 and they are anticlockvise turning ones..

@manxhu6610

7 күн бұрын

romans vere clearly nazis!!

@Jordi_Llopis_i_Torregrosa96

4 күн бұрын

The Romans were unfathomably based.

I visited Dura in 2011 before the war. Amazing site! Dr. Simon James wrote his PhD on the arms and armour found at Dura, and has written several books and articles on the subject. Keep up the good work and good luck with your studies!

Well done, kid. I loved history when I was your age, too. I still do. Keep it up.

I am surprised you are surprised. Most everyone in the entire world had NO FREAKING IDEA WHATSOEVER that one of these still existed for real! It’s like seeing a picture of a unicorn munching on someone’s front lawn. This is absolutely extraordinary, and so vivid! Quite lovely. Thanks for sharing it with the world.

An essentially complete Roman shield. You can see that where the centre of the shield was gripped around the bar would make the holder's fist vulnerable to attack. For that reason it would have had a 'shield boss' in the centre shaped in a dome in order to protect against such injury. Actually, I had no idea this shield was the sole example of its kind. As they say, "you learn something new every day." Bravo for achieving such an impact in viewership. You're definitely doing something right. 👍

@Buck_T

7 күн бұрын

the shield boss is next to it open your eyes

With how amazing that one regular one looks. It would be ecstatic how other one's must have looked like back in the day.

Finding any ancient artifact made of wood and intact is wonderful! Bless the soul its pieces were in!

Great video with excellent visual content. Well done and thanks for sharing this.

I've been to duras europas, but had never heard it mentioned before or since....until now! Also Mari nearby was amazing! Back view? Could a soldier use it as a groundsheet on wet ground?

It blew up? Was there any damage?

Very interesting to see the swastikas on the shield

@davidlynch9049

12 күн бұрын

Those are not Swastikas.

@francisbusa1074

10 күн бұрын

​@@davidlynch9049 Then what do you call them?

@richardsuggs8108

9 күн бұрын

The Swastika was an important symbol from India 🇮🇳 before Hitler adopted it into the German military. I believe it stood for good luck.

@rowdyravingraven

9 күн бұрын

@@davidlynch9049 yes they are and were used in many cultures since 500-600 BCE. It was a common Roman design and was even found on some floors in Pompeii.

@rowdyravingraven

9 күн бұрын

@@francisbusa1074 3:08 clearly shows a Swastika, in the top left corner of the inner square of the shield

Awesome posters in the background! Raiders, back to the future and… is that the Viking from Jorvik on the toilet ??!? 😅 Great video 👍

Very interesting. The decoration on this is beautiful, it shows that the swastika is an ancient symbol, not a Nazi one.😎

0:27, schlong shield? Was everyone named Biggus Dickus or something?

How much does the shield weigh?

Interesting video. Thanks! That's BC by the way!

Great info - super interesting stuff 👍

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Thank you!

Always happy to see love for Rome, it would be great to see a video during Rome's Byzantine period!

Excellent video. The Al Fayum specimen is very interesting as well. Roman or not, It is definitly a scutum

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Thank you, I'll check it out!

It’s got a few examples of the swastika on it.

And I think that your page is one of the few that still shows the importance of the past and historical facts. Unfortunately, in this era, true history is subject to the construction of post-truth narratives and interpretations to serve political goals. Congratulations and keep it up.

Awesome vid! Thanks for sharing your passion! The Romans are never boring!

Great video Louise-I love the Romans…so far ahead of their time.

Great video, Louise... Gave u a sub , u earned it!!

Pretty interesting, I loved the video and the format. Improving the sound would be great (but expensive I know), but besides that everything was really good 👌

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much I really appreciate it!

Has anyone ever researched if the shield was a parade/show example, or an actual fighting shield?

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

That is a great question! It was found inside a tower with other weaponry during what was a massive attack which would suggest this was used in combat, but it would be interesting to see how it compared to other examples as the design is so complex.

@dpeasehead

12 күн бұрын

@c.c1089: Thanks for asking this question. That was my first thought about actual reason for the fancy design.

Very, VERY interesting! If only that scutum could talk! PRO ROMA!

Fascinating

This is great and all, but what did the soldiers of the Eastern Empire use up until the fall of Constantinople?

Wonder if it's really a prop used in a theater production? A amphitheatre there?

Informative. Good stuff. Very cool

Is there a modern replica of it?

Louise, nice presentation.

It is beautiful. There is at least one company that makes a replica of this shield

I hope they find one in Carisle this year.

It isn't complete though, it's missing the boss.

Wonderful! I had no idea that there was a Roman shield that still existed! It's also *great* to see a young person who is interested in ancient history like that of Rome! So many young people nowadays seem to only be interested in social media and texting on their phones - nothing else!

So it just casually has 4 swastikas?

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

The swastika is an ancient symbol used by many cultures throughout history that was then most famously used by the Nazi party en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

@andrewdaley5480

Ай бұрын

Im glad you know this its amazing how many people do not. 🇬🇧 ​@@louisearchaeology

Obviously, shields are the secret to Instagram success. Congrats for showing us the way

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Haha I might switch to marketing!

I love the idea that this is the root for such words as scoot and scootch. 😊

Aside from the red graphics painted - looks pretty similar to what modern swat or riot police use today?

Same shield I seen in New haven ct art museum , and the swastika is very popular in the past indians also had the swastika symbol

Is it really complete if the boss is missing? Lovely shield though.

@justdoingitjim7095

27 күн бұрын

The boss was shown to the right of the shield in some of his photos.

What did the shwastika mean back then?

@Taistelukalkkuna

2 ай бұрын

Religious symbol. Maybe Mithraic? There is also mosaic of Roman of Roman officers and their tunic hems are decoraded with swastika embroidement.

@jamesbyrne9312

2 ай бұрын

@@Taistelukalkkuna just wondered if it was to do with ear or peace. I heard it's a symbol of peace, but having it on a shield would suggest the reverse

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

A religious symbol, some theories suggest it represents lightning bolts so maybe the god Jupiter

@jamesbyrne9312

2 ай бұрын

@@louisearchaeology thanks

@frankleepower2333

2 ай бұрын

My same thought.

That thing is gorgeous! The movies always show the Romans as all decked out in sharp red. I guess it's true.

I wouldnt be surprised if back in the day, most of those shields were designed to reflect the group of people that were carrying them. So when that group of soldiers disbanded or were replaced, all weapons and things bearing that mark were destroyed and replaced.......yet this one example was saved from the destruction. Antiquity is filled with those stories. St. Peters is built using the remnants of the former basilica and even places like the coliseum were looted in antiquity for its marble....a lot of people think that they see bullet holes, but the holes, in a lot of cases, were built to anchor the marble into the walls. Not to mention, to invading armies, it was pretty common to collect the enemy weapons and either destroy them or attempt to recycle them somehow.

🦉🐯 Swastikas @3:42

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw a news clip on this and I was amazed. One thing, how tall is this in feet? And also how big were the soldiers behind it. It looks tall as the replicas that we have seen in the movies, and the soldiers were of 20th Century height.That was not the case then. Here in the States, I have seen numerous uniforms from the Revolution to our Civil War and these adults were of the stature of kids! What was the average height of a Roman Soldier? Five foot and three inches? My guess. Thank you the video.

@justdoingitjim7095

27 күн бұрын

The average height for a Roman soldier was about 170 cm or 5’7″. This is based on the documented Imperial regulations which state that the minimum height for a soldier was about 165 cm or 5’5″. The height of a soldier could vary from about 165 cm to 175 cm (5’5″ to 5’9″) depending on the individual.

@_pawter

9 күн бұрын

@@justdoingitjim7095 Yes they had a general physical exam on joining to ensure minimum standards for health and stature. A 5'7" man back then was a robust specimen.

@11moonshot

7 күн бұрын

@@justdoingitjim7095 I did not know this! Very interesting, thanks for the info!

Im surprised the museum doesnt have copyright over images of its displays.

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Some museums do have copyright over reproductions of certain artifacts, the Nebra Sky Disc is an example, but most are fine with video and recordings being taken of them by an individual. The Sistine Chapel is an example of one where you aren't allowed to take any recordings so it is possible.

Very Interesting video. Audio quality is poor. Too much low frequency, too little high frequency. Makes it sound muffled.

Maybe shields are so rare because they were carried on their shields when they died!

Very interesting stuff! In my country Austria 🇦🇹 the Romans had been for 500 years south of the Danube river. There is more left from this period as people would expect. Greetings from Linz Austria 🇦🇹 Europe! 😎👍😺💪🍀🍺🐺

@11moonshot

7 күн бұрын

Nice to see someone here, speaking German as well... The content presented here was great, but I myself had some trouble understanding the young lady due to her strong accent, what about you?

interesting

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

There are probably loads more, but they haven't been dug up yet.

The shield has swastika signs on the 4 corners.

How Can you be 100 %Sure this is an authentic 100 % Roman? What do they know? What do you Know?

I think this shield was for gladiator fights. It doesn't seem to be something portible for a battle.

You need a better microphone :)

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

I'm saving up for one!

This Girl is worryingly Promiseing! Bravo! (^_-)

Did anyone notice the swastika like symbols on the shield?

Cool vid .

What is the shield made from

@miikaelaun2689

2 ай бұрын

2:45

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Wood and leather!

It has a very oriental appearance in my opinion. At glance at least.

Yes.. a wonderful artifact..sad to think MEN have been slaughtering each other for THOUSANDS of years - and to what end? - and the slaughterhouse continues to this day…

Did I catch that right? 41 cm or 16 inches wide? Doesn't sound right.

Pat!

It’s wonderful. But it’s missing the shield boss.

Looks like the boss is missing. Or else it didn't have one.

The swastikas on the shield means good luck

Looks large, type of tower shield ? Can we say later romans needed larger shields than Republican legions ?

Shields were wooden and didn't survive.

@louisearchaeology

2 ай бұрын

Most of the time that's true but in this case the dry climate allowed for preservation as the lack of moisture meant if didn't decay. The site as a whole has amazing preservation I'd recommend searching it!

nice little corner swastikas there !

How more of Roman stuff

And it was found flat. The curve we see is guess work. Just saying

@georgem7965

12 күн бұрын

Actually, you can figure out the curvature by the shape of the fragments. This is pretty common in both archaeology and paleontology.

Too small

Very cool artifact. I'd like to see more videos on other Dura Europos finds, particularly the horse armor. One suggestion: If you slow down your speed of delivery a bit it will help with the undestandability of the dialog. Even as a Yank I don't have an issue with your UK accent (although I am not good enough to identify what region you are from in the UK) but the speed of your speaking had me turning on the subtitle function to help me. A higher quality microphone could help too.

@11moonshot

7 күн бұрын

Another one, who had a problem with her audio! As a German with English as a secons language I d i d have a problem with her strong accent! I never have a problem with American accents ... but those Brits! They swallow so many of their consonants... plus her specific speed...

Why are there swaztikas on the shield? The Nazis had this or the Roman’s had this?

@hebber1961

8 күн бұрын

It's an old symbol. One in ancient India too.

Ugh!

It's not really complete without a boss, but it is a beauty - like all Roman kit, it's wonderfully thought out. An absolute pig to use in one to one combat... but that's not how the Roman's fought.

knock it off with the BCE crap.

@evanmorris1178

Ай бұрын

Why? Does it hurt? We aren’t all Christian, you know!

@wrsmith711

Ай бұрын

@@evanmorris1178 and we are not all common either... It should be BM, Before Mohammed...

@evanmorris1178

Ай бұрын

@@wrsmith711 Well screw that! Everyone uses dates, they shouldn’t be connected to any one religion. We need less theocratic nonsense, not more!

@wrsmith711

Ай бұрын

@@evanmorris1178 - except the goal here is to remove the most important event in human history simply because it deals with a religion. the greatest date of all time.

@wrsmith711

Ай бұрын

@@evanmorris1178 the birth of Christ was the most important event in all of history....

Nice. Thanks for that. Good luck with your studies but don't lose focus on what will gain you secure professional employment in your fascinating field. Don't risk becoming bewildered in the mists and smokes of DEI and Social Justice. I remember reading an after-action-report of a cohort that had removed the leather covers when marching to avoid getting them wet (probably make them unusably heavy) and ran into a sudden battle and had to use them uncovered which renderd them much less effective. Can you throw any light on such matters?

A Roman shield with angels? and swastikas on it. Wow!!! A wonder if the swastika symbol meant good luck in those days?

it is not about the shield at all just about the uploaders ego.