The youngest soldiers or velites are ordered to carry a sword, javelins, and a target ().
The target is strongly made and sufficiently large to afford protection, being circular and measuring three feet in diameter.
They also wear a plain helmet, and sometimes cover it with a wolf's skin or something similar both to protect and to act as a distinguishing mark by which their officers can recognize them and judge if they fight pluckily or not.
The wooden shaft of the javelin measures about two cubits in length and is about a finger's breadth in thickness; its head is a span long hammered out to such a fine edge that it is necessarily bent by the first impact, and the enemy is unable to return it. If this were not so, the missile would be available for both sides.
Walbank Commentary