beaten round shieldRotella shields were mainly used during the Renaissance (16th17th century). They were inspired by the round shields of classical antiquity, which are frequently depicted in Greek and Roman art. Several Spanish and Italian manuals, such as those by Di Grassi and Marozzo, describe how to use the rotella. These shields were used throughout Renaissance Europe and were often paired with a side sword or a spear. This rotella is reinforced with steel,