07-03-2009, 04:16 AM
Quote:Sorry--that means there's no reason to ever place a porpax off center.
Well, it means that placing the porpax off-center because of limitations in arm length is unlikely. If the shield itself had to sit in a certain orientation, or if there is a benefit to having the elbow/shoulder closer to the mid-line, then this has no bearing.
Quote:Also note that the porpax and--the band of bronze that runs top- to bottom on most shields ont he line of the porpax--is the binding strap that holds all the boards together, and thuis it would be even more unlikely that a workman would place it off center and risk some of his boards warping. That shile dband isn't decorative, at least int he early times (550 BC).
Do you think that moving the band of the porpax so that its left edge is along the center-line, as opposed to a point in the middle of the band, is enough to substantially weaken the shield?
Any scanned images of aspises that can be shared would be of great help. Perhaps sent privately instead of posted. That image of the construction alone makes me covet the book.
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
