Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Scutatus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

SCUTA'TUS. Armed with the oblong rectangular shield, termed scutum, as exhibited by the annexed figure (Scutatus/1.1) of a Roman soldier from the column of Trajan. (Liv. xxviii. 2. Virg. Aen. ix. 370.) The legionary soldiers (legionarii) on Trajan's column are uniformly represented with a long square shield, made of a convex form to take the shape of the body; and never, as some writers have supposed, with one of a long flat oval, or of an hexagonal form; for those figures are without exception given to the cavalry (equites), to the Praetorian troops (praetoriani), or to the enemy and allied troops from foreign nations. But the scutum was likewise used by the Samnites, and consequently was carried by the Samnite gladiators, as may be seen by the figure introduced in illustration of that word.

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  Scutatus/1.1