07-13-2011, 12:23 AM
I just wrote an article for the Ancient Warfare Marathon Special that speaks to this a bit, and there is a lot of information on the aspis on my blog as well. The Bomarzo shield, at the Vatican, and the Basel shield, had poplar and willow cores respectively. These same woods were recommended by Pliny for use in shields because of their resilience.
Unlike Scutii, many aspides seem to have been carved out on a large wood lathe, literally like a giant bowl. Some were constructed of strips of wood set in perpendicular layers like modern plywood in the manner of scutum construction.
The main difference between them is in the grip system, a single, centered handgrip in the Scutum and a double grip system with a central arm-cuff and a handgrip to the right side in the aspis. Although this has been thought to aid in carrying a very heavy aspis, this unlikely because the aspis was probably not on average more that 6-7 kg.
If you are interested in the aspis, you'll want to read Blythe's report on the Bomarzo shield. Contact me if you wish.
Unlike Scutii, many aspides seem to have been carved out on a large wood lathe, literally like a giant bowl. Some were constructed of strips of wood set in perpendicular layers like modern plywood in the manner of scutum construction.
The main difference between them is in the grip system, a single, centered handgrip in the Scutum and a double grip system with a central arm-cuff and a handgrip to the right side in the aspis. Although this has been thought to aid in carrying a very heavy aspis, this unlikely because the aspis was probably not on average more that 6-7 kg.
If you are interested in the aspis, you'll want to read Blythe's report on the Bomarzo shield. Contact me if you wish.
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!"
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
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!"
