"Carthaginian armour and shields. Victrix." Topic

Hi all, am currently putting together a "Warriors of Carthage" box of figures.

Would it not be in the realms of fantasy to put the Srutum shields on the linen armoured spearmen aswell as the mail armoured spearmen?

Any one know of any reason why this wouldn't be possible?

These troops would mainly be for Hannibal in Italy.

Cheers Andy

Actually I would think it very likely that after Trasimene, when some of the Carthaginian foot was rearmed with captured Roman gear, they had many more captured shields than suits of mail. All the 3 classes of Roman infantry would have carried the scutum, but not every man would have worn mail – only those who could afford it. I think what you're doing is entirely plausible.

Would the Carthage troops have repainted the shields?

whitejamest……I was thinking exactly the same.

I think that ancient armies, especially mercenary troops, would have worn what could afford, loot or prefer.

Cheers Andy

Were the Carthaginians' own shields that unsuitable?

Skeptic, during this period there was a shift from the Hoplite/Phalanx style troops to a more Roman style of training. If the equipment from your fallen enemies is better for your new style, wouldn't you use them?

My reason for using them is purely aesthetic, I like the look of the scrutums on my figures better. :-)

At least I'm not building Carthaginian pikemen!!!! :-)

Cheers Andy

There's no evidence at all that the Carthaginians moved to a more Roman style of training, just that they moved to a more Roman appearance.

The Greek aspis shield has a different grip than the Roman scutum, the arm grip makes the shield centered differently. It is easier to overlap the aspis. So it does denote a different fighting emphasis, but not different tactics. Mercenaries are adaptable. The triarii still used spears, so there seems no loss of combat ability by switching to the larger but probably lighter single grip shield.

It would seem that the single grip shield was seen to be more effective at fighting Romans than the old aspis, if they indeed did get rid of their bronze faced shields.

We had some discussion on TMP a while back on evidence for use of the scutum/theuros by Carthage prior to Hannibal's crossing of the Alps.

TMP link

There is numismatic evidence that suggests that Barcid marines at least used the scutum.

There is archaeological evidence from Spain that suggests that the scutum was popularised amongst Iberians at the time of Barcid expansion there. The falcata appears to be similarly promoted as a new tool of fighting. Thus, the Iberian scutarii was a relatively modern troop type that appears to have been introduced by the Barcids… perhaps after exposure to the Romans in the First Punic War?

Based on that I would say that you could readily use scuta on your linen armoured spearmen.

Thanks guys, Scrutms all fitted now.

Cheers Andy