2D images of artefacts
Weapons • Armour • Other Equipment
Weapons
![Two pila from Hod Hill with bent shanks. They have lost their tangs or sockets. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) Two pilum irons, one with its pyramidal head, both bent slightly at the same point on the shank.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/33368001/872465395.jpg)
Two pila from Hod Hill with bent shanks. They have lost their tangs or sockets. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Pila
![Ferrous pilum head and shank from Little Linford. The square-sectioned shank is bent just below the pyramidal head (which also has a bent tip). Image: Buckinghamshire County Council/Ros Tyrrell Pilum head and shank, the shank being bent below the head.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/04/Iron_pilum_FindID_71202/1052381638.jpg)
Ferrous pilum head and shank from Little Linford. The square-sectioned shank is bent just below the pyramidal head (which also has a bent tip). Image: Buckinghamshire County Council/Ros Tyrrell
Pilum
![Complete irons from square-socketed pila found at Harzhorn. Both have expansions where weights may have been attached. Image: Axel Hindemith Two ferrous socketed pila, broader at the socketed end, tapering to the pyramidal heads](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/04/Harzhorn-pila/2941919685.jpg)
Complete irons from square-socketed pila found at Harzhorn. Both have expansions where weights may have been attached. Image: Axel Hindemith
Pila
![Ferrous pila in Saalburg museum, with a tanged example on the left and a socketed one in the middle. Image: MCB three pila laid out side-by-side on an orange background.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/10/Saalburg-pila-scaled/82900233.jpg)
Ferrous pila in Saalburg museum, with a tanged example on the left and a socketed one in the middle. Image: MCB
Pila
![Four plumbatae from Enns (AUT) in the Museum Lauriacum. Image: Wolfgang Sauber (CC BY-SA 3.0) Four plumbatae laid out and left to right, from longest to shortest, with barbed heads and weights of varying lengths.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/10/1251px-ML_-_Plumbate/1129207085.jpg)
Four plumbatae from Enns (AUT) in the Museum Lauriacum. Image: Wolfgang Sauber (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Plumbatae
Armour
![The Kasr el-Harit plywood shield, thought to be the only example of a curved Republican Roman legionary shield to survive (although it is often claimed as 'Celtic' or Hellenistic, despite the fact that only Roman shields seem to have been shaped to the body in this way). Now in the National Police Museum in Cairo (EGY). Image Ashashyou (CC BY-SA 4.0) Plywood shield with a spina and 'barleycorn' boss, all made of wood.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/10/Kasr-el-Harit/3749091571.jpg)
The Kasr el-Harit plywood shield, thought to be the only example of a curved Republican Roman legionary shield to survive (although it is often claimed as 'Celtic' or Hellenistic, despite the fact that only Roman shields seem to have been shaped to the body in this way). Now in the National Police Museum in Cairo (EGY). Image Ashashyou (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Shield
![Large fragment of the painted, curved rectangular shield found in Tower 19 after excavation. Image: Yale University Art Gallery (PD) Monochrome image of the lower portion of the scutum taken after excavation, showing the lion in the lower field.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2024/04/dura-fvii58-01/3773600687.jpg)
Large fragment of the painted, curved rectangular shield found in Tower 19 after excavation. Image: Yale University Art Gallery (PD)
Shield
![The curved rectangular shield from Tower 19 at Dura-Europos in its current state. Image: Yale Art Gallery A curved rectangular painted shield with a horizontal grip but lacking a boss. An elaborate paint scheme includes a lion in the lower register, victories with wreaths flanking an eagle in the top, and decorative bordering to where the the boss plate should be.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/dura-shield/3509947745.jpg)
The curved rectangular shield from Tower 19 at Dura-Europos in its current state. Image: Yale Art Gallery
Dura shield
![Detail of the rawhide edge binding of the Dura-Europos scutum. Image: MCB (CC BY-SA 2.0) Top right corner of the face of the curved rectangular legionary shield showing rawhide strip stitched to the edge to protect it.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/10/Dura-scutum-edging-detail/1744087751.jpg)
Detail of the rawhide edge binding of the Dura-Europos scutum. Image: MCB (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Shield binding
![Curved, rectangular copper-alloy shield boss with six of eight domed shield nails in situ. Image: P. Gross Curved rectangular shield umbo with a green patina and with a hemispherical boss in the centre for the hand grip.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/rectangular-umbo/380331517.jpg)
Curved, rectangular copper-alloy shield boss with six of eight domed shield nails in situ. Image: P. Gross
Shield boss
![Curved rectangular copper-alloy shield boss from the River Tyne at South Shields with a hemispherical boss, engraved and punctim decoration, and selective tinning. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) Front view of a curved rectangular shield boss with a yellowy and silver patine and with a hemispherical boss.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/600632001/2563688407.jpg)
Curved rectangular copper-alloy shield boss from the River Tyne at South Shields with a hemispherical boss, engraved and punctim decoration, and selective tinning. Image: © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Shield boss
![Fragmentary curved, rectangular, copper-alloy shield boss similar to the example from the River Tyne. Found at Vindonissa. Image: DerHexer (CC BY-SA 4.0) Top right corner and part of the dome of a shield boss from a legionary shield, decorated with incised lines and punched dots picked out in white.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/10/Vindonissa-shield-boss/1462913074.jpg)
Fragmentary curved, rectangular, copper-alloy shield boss similar to the example from the River Tyne. Found at Vindonissa. Image: DerHexer (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Shield boss
![Oval ferrous shield boss found (together with the remains of shield edging) on the Hunerberg at Nijmegen (NLD). Image: Museum het Valkhof (Public Domain Mark 1.0) Oval ferrous shield boss with two rivets on the expanded flange on the narrow ends with a shiny patina.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/10/museumhetvalkhof_PDB_2012_1_CA__1997_6708mc/1443959244.jpg)
Oval ferrous shield boss found (together with the remains of shield edging) on the Hunerberg at Nijmegen (NLD). Image: Museum het Valkhof (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Shield boss
Other Equipment
![Copper-alloy belt plate with chased and punctim decoration, the central boss being surrounded by a hunt scene. Image MCB Brass-coloured belt plate.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/Chichester-belt-3/3754824017.jpg)
Copper-alloy belt plate with chased and punctim decoration, the central boss being surrounded by a hunt scene. Image MCB
Belt plate
![Hunt scene belt plate from Magdalensberg (AUT). The cut-out to the left suggests this was originally a buckle- or dagger-frog-plate. Image: MCB Rectngular copper-alloy belt (with tinning) with an embossed hunt scene around a central boss.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/Magdalensberg-hunt-scene/57373141.jpg)
Hunt scene belt plate from Magdalensberg (AUT). The cut-out to the left suggests this was originally a buckle- or dagger-frog-plate. Image: MCB
Belt plate
![Belt-plate stamp of copper alloy found at Sheepen, Colchester, matching examples of such plates from Chichester (amongst others). Image: MCB Cast copper-alloy rectangular stamp with a green patina, depicting a hunt scene around a central boss.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/Colchester-belt-plate-stamp/2938184285.jpg)
Belt-plate stamp of copper alloy found at Sheepen, Colchester, matching examples of such plates from Chichester (amongst others). Image: MCB
Stamp
![Copper-alloy belt plate with embossed lotus-flower motifs in a central roundel from Valkenburg. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0) Belt plate with central roundel decorated with embossed lotus blooms, retaining a brassy patina in places](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/106429-e1676814708372/1874318783.jpeg)
Copper-alloy belt plate with embossed lotus-flower motifs in a central roundel from Valkenburg. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0)
Belt plate
![Copper-alloy lupercal-type embossed belt plate from Oberstimm (DEU).There are four rivets holes, one in each corner, for attaching it to the leather belt. Image: Archäologische Staatssammlung München (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Square embossed belt plate depicting the wolf and twins with a rivet hole in each of the four corners. It retains a shiny green patination.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/10/Oberstimm-lupercal-belt-plate/359276677.jpg)
Copper-alloy lupercal-type embossed belt plate from Oberstimm (DEU).There are four rivets holes, one in each corner, for attaching it to the leather belt. Image: Archäologische Staatssammlung München (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Belt plate
![Copper-alloy embossed belt plates and buckle from Chassenard (FRA). Image: Cangadoba (CC BY-SA 4.0) A buckle (left) and two belt plates (centre and right) with an embossed portrait over crossed cornucopiae.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/2560px-MAN_-_Plaques_de_Ceintures_legion_effigie_de_tibere_1/765163484.jpg)
Copper-alloy embossed belt plates and buckle from Chassenard (FRA). Image: Cangadoba (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Belt plates
![Copper-alloy inlaid belt plate and buckle from Valkenburg. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0) Belt plate and buckle hinged to it. Originally inlaid.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/001969-e1676609415612/707891181.jpeg)
Copper-alloy inlaid belt plate and buckle from Valkenburg. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0)
Belt plate and buckle
![Belt plate with attached buckle from Valkenburg. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0) Belt plate with hinged buckle attached, the latter with partial damage to its internal volutes](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/106541/2272150009.jpeg)
Belt plate with attached buckle from Valkenburg. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0)
Belt plate and buckle
![Hinged belt plate and buckle from Pompeii. Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art (PD) Patinated copper-alloy belt plate with tongued buckle hinged to it.](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/LC-20_152_7-002-scaled-e1676761349195/3613350347.jpg)
Hinged belt plate and buckle from Pompeii. Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art (PD)
Belt plate and buckle
![A copper-alloy buckle plate with hinge, but missing most of its belt plate. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0) Hinged buckle plate with tongue in situ](https://romanmilitaryequipment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/02/205562/615076919.jpeg)
A copper-alloy buckle plate with hinge, but missing most of its belt plate. Image: National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden (CC0 1.0)
Buckle plate