Some Aspis Revisionism

[hoplite14gr]

Shields with ful mettall outer layuer were rarer than others in my opinion.
Both National Arhaiological Museum Athens m Olympia na Dodona Museums have exibits that show that most shields had a metal ring in the outer surface and a metalic shield device covered part of the outer shield layer.
The basis of the shield construction relied haevily on the "Vatican shield" and many people see it a s "rule of the thimb". (ONE example)
But we can never be sure what type of non metalic material was used based on period, availability, cost ans skill constrants at a given area.

From exparience any shield between 10 kgr (22 lbs) ro 14 kgr (27lbs) is usable in a phalanx.
And probably (still researching here) the pyrichios was an exersize to handle the shields weight.

Kind regards