Just because I am interested in this topic, and would like to know whether there were uniform shields in the early Republic, I did a little research to post on here. Sorry if you wanted this post forgotten, Stalexton.
I could not find my evidence in my quick search that the Romans used specific designs on their early shields, so a 'uniform design' (for example, such as the Spartans had), might not have existed, but rather that no design was warrented, thus creating a sort of uniformity in their common blankness.
I've found some basic evidence. The first two show the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus, dated about the end of the Second Century BC (not particulary early, I know...), but they do show two Roman legionaries with very blank shields. Obviously any design may have been lost in time, and I expect it had, along with any detail possibly etched into the relief.
This one is of an actual Roman Scutum recovered from Kasr el-Harit in Egypt. Again, little chance to see a design here. Sorry.
There is, however, a passage from Polybius, which describes the early "scutum" in his "Histories":
"The Roman panoply consists firstly of a shield "(scutum)", the convex surface of which measures two and a half feet in width and four feet in length, the thickness at the rim being a palm's breadth. It is made of two planks glued together, the outer surface being then covered first with canvas and then with calf-skin. Its upper and lower rims are strengthened by an iron edging which protects it from descending blows and from injury when rested on the ground. It also has an iron boss (umbo) fixed to it which turns aside the most formidable blows of stones, pikes, and heavy missiles in general".
He does not mention any specific design or uniform colouring (red..?) but this also suggests that, with no design, the shields may have appeared at the very least similar if not identical.
I am very much open to counter evidence or further argument, as long as its structured and valid.
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