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Visigothic 'coffin' shields

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:05 pm
by Skullzgrinda
We've all seen the illustrations and the minis. The shields look awkward and improbable, albeit cool in a clunky, funky kind of way.

http://www.magistermilitum.com/popuplar ... le=DARK006 Warband foot warriors, coffin shields

http://www.15mm.co.uk/G1_Goth_with_Coffin_Shield.htm

Does anyone know of any primary evidence for these, and if they existed, what time frames?

TIA

Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:54 pm
by ShrubMiK
I've been wondering about that myself lately, was thinking of acquiring a few units of Gothic foot...

The WRG book merely states that they were "traditional", but "probably outnumbered by round shields". Unusually, no mention is made of the evidence for this, although I assume there must have been some to arrive at such a specific conclusion. Of course, that book is rather old now anyway.

Had a quick google and didn't come up with anything much.

Oh, but wait...just in! http://www.madaxeman.com/15mm/displayim ... =92&pos=18

Well what more evidence do you need?

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:56 pm
by ValentinianVictor
I believe that only one example of this type of shield has been found. They appear to mostly have used the more normal round or oval shields, probably more of the oval type after 376AD when they moved into Roman territory and used captured Roman equipment.