#ROME 2 BLANK HOPLITE SHIELD FREE#

The porpax consisted of bronze and was used to reinforce the shield in the centre, where it was very thin. An Etruscan shield of this type, currently in the Museo Gregoriano (Vatican), still had traces of leather lining on the inside (Connolly 1998, p. Some modern authors suggest the outside could also be protected by leather (such as ox hide), but there’s no ancient evidence for this (e.g.

Sometimes, the entire outer surface was covered by a thin sheet of bronze. The rim was flat and generally reinforced with bronze. The Argive shield was made from planks (presumably mostly oak).

Some modern commentators have argued that this type of shield never really existed, but I beg to differ. The scene from the black-figure vase that’s used as this article’s featured image, for example, features a so-called “Boeotian” shield: it’s similar to the Argive one, but often (not always!) oblong in shape and, characteristically, has two scallops cut from the side. There was at least one major variant of this type of shield. This shield type is associated with the ancient Greek hoplite, but it was emphatically not primarily known as a hoplon, nor did the hoplite derive his name from this shield. Often, there was another antilabe on the opposite edge, which perhaps served as a spare. It was convex (“hollow”, as the ancient sources would have it), and featured a central arm grap ( porpax) through which the left arm was put, while the hand grabbed a handle ( antilabe) near the shield’s edge. The Argive shield was round, about a metre or more in diameter. It’s often referred to as an “Argive” shield. Towards the end of the eighth century BC, the ancient Greeks invented a large, round shield ( aspis) that was to dominate Greek warfare from that point onwards down the Hellenistic era. Its strong naval tradition gives its fleets the upper hand, with the downside being that her land units are less developed.However, that does not stop Athens from packing a punch in battle.This article was originally published on the defunct Ancient World Magazine website and is now re-published here.

#ROME 2 BLANK HOPLITE SHIELD FREE#

With a strong backbone of spear-bearing Hoplite units supported by archers, a fully formed-up Athenian army makes for a formidable sight – and a tough nut to crack.įorever influential, but still not fully independent of Macedonian rule, Athens has the opportunity to break free and potentially found a third Athenian League, asserting authority over long term allies and adversaries alike, such as Sparta, Thebes and Corinth.Īs a city state, the capital city of Athenai enjoys great wealth, and its rich classical heritage makes it easier for their conquests to convert to the Athenian way of life.

However, continuing the traditions of the classical era, its citizens are also expected to contribute both infantry and cavalry to its armies, although mercenary troops now supplement their numbers. Following the death of Alexander the Great, his generals fought over Athens, particularly the heirs of the Antigonid and Ptolemaic dynasties.Įver since they were advised by the Oracle at Delphi to put faith in the city's wooden walls during the Persian Wars, Athens’ military focus has long been its navy. Throughout the Greco-Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, the city state remained both fiercely independent and a leading power of the time, but became part of the wider Macedonian Empire following Phillip II’s decisive victory at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. In many ways, Greek culture is defined by Athens. Renowned for its architecture, art and writing, Athens has long been famed for its cultural achievements – from buildings such as the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena the patron of the city, to the plays and works of Aristophanes, Plato, Socrates, and Sophocles.

Rome 2 blank hoplite shield