making an aspis

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Indeed,with Paul M's digram we have almost the entire shield made by 2cm thick planks.This is VERY THICK and heavy!It also does not explain the need for metal reinforcement in the interior as seen in the Chigi vase and in the Syphnian treasure. Paul,did you make experiments with that thick wood?
Also,there are vase paintings that show fully penetrated shields by spears(though the one I have in mind shows a homeric scene).
Add to these the aftermath of the Koroneia battle,with the "crushed" shieds.
In a normal shield it is normal to have it thicker in the center.In the hoplite battle,however,it looses its importance. Given that the "center of the bowl" is pressed either on your fellow's back or on your enemy's own shield, it is much more useful to have thick rim and outer slopes and as thin as possible center.The so thin metal cover would serve mostly to keep the planks in place and secondarily for protection.The timber shield made by manning imperial,covered with brass and constructed according to Connolly's (and Blyth's?) descriptions weights 9kgs
http://manningimperial.com/item.php?ite ... =2&c_id=10
The poplar shield without metal covering weights only 4.3kgs.I suppose if brass covered it would make about 7.5kgs.
http://manningimperial.com/item.php?ite ... =2&c_id=10
Khairete
Giannis
And Happy New Year to everybody!