Macedonian Shield

[Johnny Shumate]

Did the Macedonians paint scenes or deities inside their shields like the Greeks..?
Johnny

[Hoplitesmores]

Probably as they were greeks themselves albeit in a lower cultural level then that of the athenians they followed the "tradition". As for the inside of the macedonian sarissa shield it was embedded so i doubt there was a painting . On the other hand the hoplite shields from the other units could have been though i havent seen any in the museums though in leather the painting must have faded with it.Anyone else?

[Johnny Shumate]

Hoplitesmores,
What do you mean by "embedded"..? Do you mean concave..? Do you have any references for the sarissa shield? Most of what I've got is from Peter Connolly.
Thanks for your help,
Johnny

[hoplite14gr]

Painted interiors in shields are probably more likely to the army before Philip's reforms.
The round pelta was closer to the body when holding the pike so it was unlikely that it was painted.

Hypaspists and late thyreophoroi are more likely to have painted shields along wih any holpite-like continents serving in the army.

Hope it helps.


Kind regards

[Johnny Shumate]

Stefanos,
Thanks for the information.
What was the most popular image to paint within their shields? Greek gods? Good luck symbols? Mythical scenes?
Thanks,
Johnny

[Hoplitesmores]

read Asklepiodotus :Tactical art . He is connoly's source aside the archaeological finds

[MeinPanzer]

Stefanos,
Thanks for the information.
What was the most popular image to paint within their shields? Greek gods? Good luck symbols? Mythical scenes?
Thanks,
Johnny

For Macedonians, the 8-pointed star. Most evidence indicates that decoration on Macedonian shields was added by chasing or embossing the metal with various semi-circles, stars, concentric circles, and lines. The Macedonian shields seen on the late-4th C. BC Aghios Athanasios painting are painted a solid colour, but with the raised (embossed) detail being left bronze or iron. Given that many of the soldiers who would have carried the Macedonian shield were part of the "shields" units (Arguraspides or Silver Shields and Chalkaspides or Bronze Shields), it seems unlikely that they would have painted anything on them at all. A Macedonian-style shield stone mould from Memphis shows the epicentre of such a shield with the face of Helios, while other existing examples that I know of feature writing (usually featuring the king's name) around a central 8-pointed star.

[hoplite14gr]

8-ray star is just a safe bet.
Macedonian shield devices are still under research for a future article.
As for the interior decoration could could range from a simple talisman or special images attributed to or linked with initiates of the various mysteries in antiquity. High ranking officers and elite units could have more elaborate designs.

Internal decoration was not common statistically, even in classical hoplite shields. 3 grave stelle and 9 pottery examples are compaired to many times their mumber of a simple red interior.

Kind regards