What were Athenian shields made of?

The Argive shield was made from planks (presumably mostly oak). The rim was flat and generally reinforced with bronze. Sometimes, the entire outer surface was covered by a thin sheet of bronze.

What is a Greek hoplite shield?

Hoplite shield (also known as hoplon or aspis) is a type of ancient shield, which was used by Ancient Greek soldiers called hoplites. Together with sword and spear, such shield was an essential part of warrior’s armament. Large concave shield was usually made of wood; some models had also bronze cover.

How big was an Athenian shield?

The aspis measured at least 0.9 metres (2 ft 11 in) in diameter and weighed about 7.3 kilograms (16 lb), and it was about 25–38 millimetres (0.98–1.50 in) thick. This large shield was made possible partly by its shape, which allowed it to be supported comfortably on the shoulder.

What was a hoplites shield called?

hoplon
Hoplites carried a large concave shield called an aspis (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a hoplon), measuring between 80–100 centimetres (31–39 in) in diameter and weighing between 6.5–8 kilograms (14–18 lbs).

What shape is a Greek shield?

The Greeks had two principal forms of shield in use, with broad flat rims, and the curved surface of the shield rising above them: (1) the long shield of oval shape that covered the wearer from mouth to ankles, suspended by a belt passing [round the neck and] the left shoulder, with a handle for the left hand.

What is Spartan shield called?

Aspi
The Aspi (also known as a Hoplon) is a large round shield used in Ancient Greece. It was the Weapon of the Spartans.

Are hoplites Spartans?

Sparta is one of the most famous city-states, along with Athens, which had a unique position in ancient Greece. Contrary to other city states, the free citizens of Sparta served as hoplites their entire lives, training and exercising in peacetime, which gave Sparta a professional standing army.

What did Spartan shields look like?

Like the rest of the Mycenaean-era armies, it was depicted as composed mainly of infantry, equipped with short swords, spears, and Dipylon-type shields (“8”-shaped simple round bronze shields). This period was the Golden Age of Warfare.

What do Spartan shields look like?

In the movie 300, the shields were entirely bronze with no painting. Some sources say the shields were red, while others only specifically state the lambda was red.

How big is a Spartan shield?

three feet
Known as a hoplon – from which is derived the name of its bearer, the hoplite—the shield was, together with the spear, the most important weapon of the Spartan warrior. Each shield was circular and convex, weighed more than 15 pounds, and measured three feet in diameter.

Can you upgrade hoplite shield?

Hoplite Shield Upgrades This Shield can’t be upgraded.

Was Sparta or Athens better?

Sparta is far superior to Athens because their army was fierce and protective, girls received some education and women had more freedom than in other poleis. First, the army of Sparta was the strongest fighting force in Greece.

What is a Greek shield called?

The Greek shield of Ancient Greece was called a hoplon or aspis. It was from this word that hoplite (a Greek soldier) is derived.

What is the name of a Greek shield?

aspis
The Greek shield of Ancient Greece was called a hoplon or aspis. It was from this word that hoplite (a Greek soldier) is derived.

How did hoplites design their shields?

Hoplite shield design was incredibly varied. There seems little evidence of standardisation, at least up to and including the 5th century: each hoplite chose his own shield design. “A Spartan had as an emblem on his shield a fly, and that, too, no bigger than life-size.

What is the Spartan emblem on his shield?

“A Spartan had as an emblem on his shield a fly, and that, too, no bigger than life-size. When some mockingly said that he had done this to escape being noticed, he said, “Rather that I may be noticeable; for I come so close to the enemy that my emblem is seen by them in its true size.”

When did shields become common in ancient Greece?

Later on, during the Hellenistic period, there is more evidence of standardised shield designs; this was the time when standing armies, employed by the state, become more common. But even during this period, many cities allowed soldiers to choose their own designs.