I was wondering were the roman developed their Scutum(shield) from, I have heard that it came from the celts they fought at the battle of allia, while I also heard it had a samnite origin. Does anyone know which one?
During the Samnite wars Rome was still fighting in a rigid Phallanx like that of the Greeks and their Northern neighbours the Etruscans.
If you're refer to their rectangular shield made famous by later repluic and early Imperial Roman soldiers, it would have been delevelop later than the Samnite wars, perhaps develop around then time Rome started to deploy its Legions in Maniples.
You'd need someone more knowledgable than me to provide precise details.