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What is the meaning of this symbol?
#1
Avete,<br>
<br>
I have seen this on many shields. By looking at it I would assume it represented 'A' for Athens, or Athena. However, I have seen pictures depicting Spartans and Macedonians with this on their shields. While they would still pay homage to Athena, would they all use the same design? So anyway, what is the scoop on this?<br>
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<img src="http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~sparta/topics/images/karmour/hoplon.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
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Valete,<br>
<br>
-Spatha<br>
<br>
P.S. Finally! I have a book ordered so I will not be bothering you with so many questions! Thanks a lot for your patience! <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p208.ezboard.com/bgreekarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=spatha190>Spatha190</A> at: 3/28/05 6:47<br></i>
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#2
Dear Spatha190<br>
Akademics claim that hoplites start using the first letter of their city state name during and after the Peloponesian war.<br>
Also one can consider the possibility of artistic licence or even the remote possibility of a mistake if the source is not "original". For Macedonians it could also stand for Alexander although I consider this far fetched!<br>
Kind regards<br>
<p></p><i></i>
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#3
It's not an "A", it's the Greek letter Lamda or "L", for (if I can approximate the spelling) Lakaidemon, or Lakaidemonia. Meaning Sparta, in short. There is a lot of debate as to just when the Spartans started putting this on their shields. Might not have been until after the Persian Wars. Not my area of expertise, though!<br>
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The Greek Alpha or "A" looked pretty much like an English "A". Athenians started using that during the Peloponnesian Wars, in response to the Spartan lamda, and other cities also started using letters. Doesn't seem to have been a universal thing, however.<br>
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Here's a site with the Greek alphabet, it's a good thing to be acquainted with:<br>
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www.ibiblio.org/koine/gre...habet.html<br>
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Not that you want or need to study Greek to be a reenactor or wargamer! Rough language to learn, and all looks like "Kaopectate"....<br>
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Khairete (which sort of means "aloha"!),<br>
<br>
Matthew <p></p><i></i>
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
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#4
There's a reference in Xenophon's <em>Hellenica</em>, 4.4.10:<br>
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"But Pasimachus, the Lacedaemonian commander of horse, at the head of a few horsemen, when he saw the Sicyonians hard pressed, tied his horses to trees, took from the Sicyonians their shields, and advanced with a volunteer force against the Argives. The Argives, however, seeing the Sigmas upon the shields, did not fear these opponents at all, thinking that they were Sicyonians. Then, as the story goes, Pasimachus said: 'By the twin gods,10 Argives, these Sigmas will deceive you,' and came to close quarters with them; and fighting thus with a few against many he was slain, and likewise others of his party." This was in 391 BC.<br>
from www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi...ell.+4.4.1<br>
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I'm not sure of other references, but they might be out there. <p></p><i></i>
Dan Diffendale
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan
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