08-11-2007, 03:12 PM
The Dipylon and Boeotian shields probably did not derive from the Mycenaean figure-8 shield, which was out of use by the end of the Bronze Age, but rather from the (apparently) Hittite shield which has curved top and bottom and concave sides. It's a much more similar shape and size, and was very popular in the late Bronze Age, same time the Dipylon is showing up.
I'm pretty sure these were real shields. But it possible that later depictions of the Boeotian shield were meant to portray an event in the heroic past, or maybe to link the character to some hero. Just a shot in the dark--other folks have done a LOT more research on that topic than I have!
Khairete,
Matthew
I'm pretty sure these were real shields. But it possible that later depictions of the Boeotian shield were meant to portray an event in the heroic past, or maybe to link the character to some hero. Just a shot in the dark--other folks have done a LOT more research on that topic than I have!
Khairete,
Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
