🔥 149–146 BC | Siege of Carthage What you’re seeing: A Roman infantryman moving through collapsing street fighting during the final assault on Carthage in the Third Punic War (149–146 BC). Armor varied by unit and role, but for this period lorica hamata (mail) is the safest baseline for a Roman infantryman. Scale armor existed, but it should not be treated as the default for every soldier. What is a scutum? A large Roman shield built from layered wood and typically faced with leather or canvas.

⚔️ 57 BC — Caesar’s Campaign Against the Belgae What did the Roman army really look like? The Roman army was a disciplined machine — soldiers wore chainmail or segmented armor, red cloaks, and carried the scutum (rectangular shield) and gladius (short sword). They marched in tight formations, trained for precision, and could build a fortified camp in a single night. Where were they fighting? These legions marched deep into northern Gaul (modern-day Belgium, northern France, southern Netherlands,

Painting a Roman Shield

How Did The Scutum Evolve Over Time? - All About Rome