Hoplites of the Archaic Age

[Chris B]

Second, the shield is symetrical so a front view makes it impossible to know how they were holding it.

We can tell from the shield blazons, which if held in your manner would be upside down, or upside down all the rest of the time. Either one is unlikely.

If it wasn't held that way, then there is no physically way possible to hold the shield to the front. Pick up one and try it. If you hold to that, then someone would have to fight with a left handed stance, bladed to the enemy, period. It maked absolutely no tactical sense what-so-ever to hold it with the holes up and down instead of the sides. It leaves too great an opening at two critical, vital areas to the body.

I definately don't have the historical knowledge that any of you do, but I spend days a week fighting hard. I don't mean point sparring, I mean going after it. I would never hold the shield that way. I'd rather not even have it if that was the choice.