Hoplite Shield Designs

[Anonymous]

On the subject of the Kopis, I would argue for a possible Greek origin on the basis that the Argive shield and the accopanying Hoplite panoply and tactics were, in themselves, a departure from tradition. Indeed, many scholars talk of "The Hoplite revolution". The kopis seems to me a weapon better-suited to Hoplite warfare than the xiphos ( even the broader-bladed varieties) because it's a "can-opener" - a heavy weapon ideal for smashing down onto helmeted heads or through the rims and bodies of shields, so it could be that its development was a part of said revolution.

Now tell me it's later. :?

[hoplite14gr]

Mark, shield design for Ierapytna is on this link:
http://www.spartanwarband.com/index.php
second from the left over the word NEWS. I got the PM check the reply.
Andy, if you mean "Ueda Sarson" link it ts good for depictions but he does not expain what is what for each depiction and in what contect.
That is the work that me and Giorgos have done and we try to publish..
Paul your observations to the use of kopis are very accurate but I will create a new thread on the evolution of hoplite warfare when I collect some data because I am not convinced it is aGreek invention.
Kind regards

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

Hi,Stefanos.

You may be right about Sarson.
I found it several months ago and
all I remember is that it was somewhere
Scandinavian. Good images of aspis,though.
Yes,he doesn't give the detail that you do,but
does give what years(periods)each is applicable.

[hoplite14gr]

Andy the guy is commendable for undertaking the project in the first place.
What I meant though I will try to explain with an example.
There is the shield with a winged dolfin coming from attik pottery.
The winged dolfin was emlem of Megara. Appears in local coinadge and there is also a poem of Anakreon about it.
Me and Giorgos simply took it a step further.
Kind regards

[Anonymous]

Did you not find a way to get your work published? If not, talk to me again.

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

OK,Mark,
I almost didn't find the info I promised you
but got lucky.
Stefanos was right about it being Luke Ueda-Sarson.
I was able to find several pages of Greek shield
patterns from c.700 bc-350bc.

I just tried the web address
www.ritsumei.ac.jp/se/luv20009/
but couldn't connect.So I googled
him by name and got it. Scroll down to
Greek shield patterns and you're there.
Still, if you want to know the particulars
then Stefanos is the man.
Good luck.
Hope you find what you need.

[hoplite14gr]

An example of Greek Heraldry dischifering.
If you see the image on the following link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/megistias ... tashmaxon/
The pot is Archaic dated from the time that the Spartans ousted the tyrants from Athens. The dead hoplite is a PYTHEA champion as we gather from the laurel decoration of his helmet. In the center of the Beotian shield is the hoplite's personal emblem. The two hawks of Skiritis show that his family has allegiance to both Spartan royal familes.
The are people who speculate that the hoplite who carries his dead comraid is not wearing chiton but the "spollas".
Kind regards

[Anonymous]

Fascinating, Stefanos,

What's the date of the incident the pot recounts? I was thinking of images like this one when I assumed that dipylon shields would have been
in use in the period before the Classical Age. If they were in use in the Archaic period, as well as the Mycenaean, that's a "life" of about 700 years. What do you think?

[hoplite14gr]

Alkmeonides and Megakleides with the aid of Spartan king Kleomenes I
overthrew Hippias in 510 B.C.
The shield is Beotian. It is the evolution of the Dipylon shield
I belive evolution was slower when it came to weaponry.
Kind regards

[Anonymous]

Alkmeonides and Megakleides with the aid of Spartan king Kleomenes I
overthrew Hippias in 510 B.C.
The shield is Beotian. It is the evolution of the Dipylon shield
I belive evolution was slower when it came to weaponry.
Kind regards

Ah! I thought that dipylon and Boeotian were different names for the same thing. It's the Boeotian style I had in mind, which is why I thought it was closer to the classical, than the Mycenaean period. Have you any pictures of a dipylon shield?

[hoplite14gr]

Osprey´s "Spartan Army" the plate of the Archaic Spartan Warriors.
It is depicted as leather or oil treated skin sewn on wicker.
Dan Howard belives it was only leather or hide layers and no wicker.
He might have a point but Connoly shows a a votive pottery fragment where the image seems to have "wickerwork" painted on it.
Possibly both might be correct.
Beotian shiled is carried "horisontaly" on most potery but a stautete in Dodona shows the Beotian shield carried "vertically".
Hope I helped

[hoplite14gr]

For those who would like a bit more info on Spartan shields:
http://spartan-world.de/hoplites3.html
Does not look good on Firexox I'm afraid. You need better MS Explorer :oops:
Enjoy!
Kind regards

[Idomeneas]

i happen to have many shield blazons recreated based on pottery or coins in vector form. they were initially created for an RTW mod. I ll post some samples







click again in new window for larger
there are plenty more and i mean plenty

[Arthes]

Khaire,
without going through all.....who carried the Griffin.....although it will be a while before I have my own aspis...this design appeals to me...
regards
Arthes

[Robert Vermaat]

i happen to have many shield blazons recreated based on pottery or coins in vector form. they were initially created for an RTW mod. I ll post some samples

Cool! Thanks!