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Hoplite Shield Designs
[Image: 46594_468950081203_681611203_6557305_5368893_n.jpg]

Our latest creation, for Bellerophon (Chris Ryall) of the Plataians.

I think I've missed posting a few--I'll go back and see.
Qui plus fait, miex vault.
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Wow!
The Sicyonian Archelaoi are making a spectacular appearence!!!!!
Kind regards
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Paul B. wrote:
Quote:Evidently there is a wide ranging connection between Artemis and bees.

....and an obvious association is that the necklace of globules of amber would look exactly like drops of honey.....
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)

"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
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Good morning,

I'd like to pose three more questions for someone out there.
The very large and frightening bee is now almost complete on my aspis.
I'm happy with the way it's coming along, and will post a photo when it's all done.

My questions have to do with details in design:
(1) In the Ephesian coins I am looking at, there are a few examples of small spirals. On the coins, they are located on either side of the bee. I have seen these spirals in other places also. Any idea what they are, or what they signify?

(2) If I want to copy a short quotation from Xenophon, and paint it onto the back of the shield, is that way too unusual and non-historical? (And if I can, are there differences in Greek script - or can I use the same as in the Loeb Classics series?)

(3) The large apron that hangs from the bottom of the apis - has anyone made one? any design or fabrication suggestions? how is it attached?

Thanks

John
Gauis Julius Quartus / John Christianson

Multum cum in omnibus rebus tum in re militari potest fortuna. (Caesar, BG, VI.30)
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Quote:[Image: 46594_468950081203_681611203_6557305_5368893_n.jpg]

Our latest creation, for Bellerophon (Chris Ryall) of the Plataians.

I think I've missed posting a few--I'll go back and see.

Bl**dy h£ll Christian, nice work!!
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
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I agree with the gentleman above: very nice work Smile
Also known as: Jeroen Leeuwensteyn Confusedhock: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt="Confusedhock:" title="Shocked" />Confusedhock:

"You see, in this world there\'s two kinds of people, my friend. Those armed with pila, and those who dig. You dig."
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Quote:Good morning,

I'd like to pose three more questions for someone out there.
The very large and frightening bee is now almost complete on my aspis.
I'm happy with the way it's coming along, and will post a photo when it's all done.

My questions have to do with details in design:
(1) In the Ephesian coins I am looking at, there are a few examples of small spirals. On the coins, they are located on either side of the bee. I have seen these spirals in other places also. Any idea what they are, or what they signify?

(2) If I want to copy a short quotation from Xenophon, and paint it onto the back of the shield, is that way too unusual and non-historical? (And if I can, are there differences in Greek script - or can I use the same as in the Loeb Classics series?)

(3) The large apron that hangs from the bottom of the apis - has anyone made one? any design or fabrication suggestions? how is it attached?

Thanks

John

(1) is this what you mean? http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/i ... sos/i.html

(2) Pottery and grave stele show internal decoration on shields so no worries. She what you can get searching "IONIC SCRIPT".
If this gets to nowhere give me the text and I will write it for you and send you the image.

(3) metal or wooden bar attached on the rim of the shield from the inside. I advise against it though.
Ask any friend of yours in the services that had negotiated rough terrain in a "rain poncho".
Kind regards
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The appron is more commonly attached on the outer face of the sield.Either with a bar tha followed the shape of the bowl, or directly attached on the bowl in three spots.The appron would be covering a bout 1/4 of the lower part of the shield.
Khaire
Giannis
Giannis K. Hoplite
a.k.a.:Giannis Kadoglou
a.k.a.:Thorax
[Image: -side-1.gif]
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Good morning,

Thank you for your reply. You write:

(1) is this what you mean? http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/i ... sos/i.html

Yes, the coins labelled SNG Cop 208.1, SNG Cop 208, and SNG Cop 209 each have two spirals (small corkscrews) near the head of the bee. It seems I have seen them elsewhere also, and I am curious about their use and significance.

(2) Pottery and grave stele show internal decoration on shields so no worries. She what you can get searching "IONIC SCRIPT".
If this gets to nowhere give me the text and I will write it for you and send you the image.

Thank you.

(3) metal or wooden bar attached on the rim of the shield from the inside. I advise against it though.
Ask any friend of yours in the services that had negotiated rough terrain in a "rain poncho".

I was wondering about a set of buttons or hooks on the face of the aspis, allowing the apron to be detached as desired.

John
Gauis Julius Quartus / John Christianson

Multum cum in omnibus rebus tum in re militari potest fortuna. (Caesar, BG, VI.30)
Reply
Buttons is the way to go.Around three "buttons" is ok,but don't expect information on what they looked like. The base that shows them is vague enough,showing some balck dots.
Giannis K. Hoplite
a.k.a.:Giannis Kadoglou
a.k.a.:Thorax
[Image: -side-1.gif]
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I believe that Giannis is correct about the 'anti-arrow curtain' being hung from the face of the shield, as he says, sometimes by some sort of bar, but also just from several circular 'buttons'. Both are shown on pottery......

The 'curtain' would certainly not be a problem on the march - it was doubtless rolled up or similar, and anyway, would be carried by the Hoplite's servant !!
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)

"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
Reply
Please find attached a montage of filched images of Arrow Aprons I've collected over the years. Certainly not exhaustive but useful in showing their variety and placement.[attachment=0:1bm66zxk]<!-- ia0 Arrow Aprons.jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:1bm66zxk]
Peter Raftos
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Avete,

I hope someone finds this useful especially since so many of the links on this thread are now broken or otherwise dead.
(see attachment)

From Phil Barker (1976)

17a : Spartan shields. Actual color is uncertain but probably red or black. Shield surface was left natural bronze.
17b : Club emblem of Thebes. Again probably black on a natural bronze background.
17c through 17k : Typical patterns from Athens where blazon was apparently left to individual choice. These could be painted on the bronze of the shield, attached to a metal sheet of different color or painted on a painted ground. Favorite shield colors were purple, red, and yellow, followed by green, grey, violet, and navy blue.
17l : Hoplite shield in section together with method of carrying it.
17m : One type of Macedonian shield pattern. The main variation in these was the number of crescents surrounding the central star.
These varied between 4 and 7 in number, 7 being the most common.
It seems likely that the shield surface was left natural bronze and the emblems on it colored, as we hear of Successor units called Silver Shields and White Shields.

~Theo


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
   
Jaime
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Quote:Avete,
17a : Spartan shields. Actual color is uncertain but probably red or black. Shield surface was left natural bronze
Theo
Evidence point to its use after 420 B.C. The red color is likely as being a color for Ares and Spartan martial tradition

Quote:Avete,
17b : Club emblem of Thebes. Again probably black on a natural bronze background.
Theo
Color interpretation strictly on attic pottery. Red and white or combination of the above cannot be excluded. I might also be encased in a beotian shield if we trust local coinage.

Quote:Avete,
17c through 17k : Typical patterns from Athens where blazon was apparently left to individual choice. These could be painted on the bronze of the shield, attached to a metal sheet of different color or painted on a painted ground. Favorite shield colors were purple, red, and yellow, followed by green, grey, violet, and navy blue.
Theo
Colours were not accidental. 17c might be Kefalenian (under research)
Dolphin was mainly white but backround color denoted city state. White dolphin on red appears in Corinthian aryballoi from 700 B.C.
Quote:Avete,
17l : Hoplite shield in section together with method of carrying it.
Theo

Quote:Avete,
17m : One type of Macedonian shield pattern. The main variation in these was the number of crescents surrounding the central star.
These varied between 4 and 7 in number, 7 being the most common.
It seems likely that the shield surface was left natural bronze and the emblems on it colored, as we hear of Successor units called Silver Shields and White Shields.
Theo
The cresents appear with the Antigonides in Macedonia and other Hellenistic states had finaces to issue luxurioyw equipment to the elite units.

Kind regards
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Well - Here it is: the Ephesian Aspis.
Gauis Julius Quartus / John Christianson

Multum cum in omnibus rebus tum in re militari potest fortuna. (Caesar, BG, VI.30)
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