Testudo

  • Testudo was the Latin for ‘Tortoise’, and was a Roman Army Tactic where the Legionaries formed into a square or rectangle.
  • They then used their shields to form a wall and roof as a defence against showers of arrows or stones.

The Tortoise Formation

  • Those on the outer lines positioned their shields vertically to form a wall around them.
  • Those in the centre positioned their shields above their heads horizontally and interlocked them to form a roof.

Advantages

  • The Shield Wall successfully prevented showers of arrows from penetrating.
  • The interlocking Shields formed such a strong roof that, according to Dio Cassius, it could be used to bridge small gulleys so that the other legionaries could march over it, and even drive horses and vehicles across it.

Disadvantages

  • When used against the Persian Army, the Persian cataphract cavalry could charge and disrupt the Testudo as it was very slow moving.
  • Also, the soldiers were so close packed together that they could not use their swords.

Sources

 

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