| Coffin Shield | |
|---|---|
![A figurine of a Goth warrior with a coffin type shield[1][2][3]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/equipment/images/4/48/Page-10012.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170829181726)
| |
| A figurine of a Goth warrior with a coffin type shield[1][2][3] | |
| Type: | Shield |
| Designation: | Coffin Shield |
| Place of origin: | Central or Eastern Europe (attested) |
| Produced: | Late antiquity (attested) |
| Manufacturer(s): | Goths (attested) |
| Material(s): | wood, metal |
| Evolved from: | Unknown |
| Evolved into: | Unknown |
Service
| |
| Used by: | Goths (attested) |
| Wars: | Unknown |
The Coffin Shield is a shield of Gothic origin.[4][5][6][7]
Overview & history[]
The coffin shield is an attested tower shield with distinctively raised midsection on the top side and narrowing lower part. It is made of wood and has a metal boss. There is no clear evidence of the existence of this shield pattern but its use by the ancient Goths is attested by the minifigure industry.
Old wargame books state that they were traditional, but probably outnumbered by round shields. According to ValentinianVictor, a user of the gaming forum Slitherine, only one example of this type of shield has been found and the Goths appear to mostly have used the more normal round or oval shields, probably more of the oval type after 376 AD when they moved into Roman territory and used captured Roman equipment.[8]
The only known reference for this shield is in the book Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome by Philip A. Barker, however, the author does not reveal his sources.[9]
The 1/72nd scale plastics figurine set "Visigoths" by HaT features the coffin shield design. The website Plastic Soldier Review comments on the shield:
"As with their near neighbours, round or oval shields were the main protection, but two of these men carry coffin-like examples. As usual there is little clear evidence, and there is some doubt as to whether such shields were used, so no one can say for certain if these are correct or not. Also the shield bosses in this set have spikes, which does not appear to be supported by the evidence."[10]
Gallery[]
In popular culture[]
- The Coffin Shield is featured in the video game Total War: Barbarian Invasion. It is used by various Gothic units.
- The Coffin Shield is featured in the video game Total War: Attila. It is used by various Gothic units.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.blister.jp/images-item-350/page-10012.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.blister.jp/item10012.html&h=370&w=250&tbnid=kRHMKNB5hO4IrM&tbnh=273&tbnw=184&usg=__zew-Mq3RT8uEqmg0HvjJYf6oZOI=&hl=en&docid=dTZAwANqFukhdM#h=370&imgdii=kRHMKNB5hO4IrM:&tbnh=273&tbnw=184&w=250
- ↑ https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://63.135.101.110/d-m-propics/DIR_DRF/DRF74004/C_DRF74004_00.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dragon-models.com/d-m-item.asp?pid=DRF74004&h=314&w=550&tbnid=26e2qTizIBd0qM&tbnh=170&tbnw=297&usg=__ZsNmkZl-Nb7qxtUTp9tvQh_Z-K8=&hl=en&docid=aRHnCz60oOARTM
- ↑ http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/4973.shtml
- ↑ http://www.fanaticus.org/discussion/showthread.php?t=11956
- ↑ http://www.fat-wally.com/CollImpetvsOstrogoths.html
- ↑ http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/sixth-scale-action-figure-news-reviews-and-discussion-/848555-gothic-warrior.html
- ↑ http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/sixth-scale-action-figure-news-reviews-and-discussion-/312506-barbarians-4-visigoth.html
- ↑ http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13673
- ↑ http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=185238
- ↑ http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/review.aspx?id=116