![]() ![]() They persisted during the middle ages as the buckler and the last use of a shield in battle by westerners was the Scottish Highlander targe which was a small round shield. Whatever the reason, the shield came full circle by the end of the western Roman Empire and round shields became the norm again. It also needs to be considered that finances played a role in ancient battles as much as today and attempts to keep costs down were undertaken so some societies only had a greave on the left leg as that was the leg most likely to be forward. Something else to consider is that a common method of fighting was the spear held over the head and used in a downward stabbing motion, the legs wouldn't be in much danger in mass combat. How that influenced the famous Greek shield we can only speculate.Įlongated or oval shields did become very common during the iron age and the Greeks themselves adopted a type they called the thyreos which they possibly copied from the Romans. The bronze age saw the dominance of geometric art which was squares, lozenges, zigzags and also concentric circles. Smaller flatter round shields do appear in other parts of Europe during the bronze age and it could be something as simple as you can trace the outline of a shield with a simple compass made of a scribe attached to a piece of string. Surviving examples of breastplates and helmets also display engraved decoration. It can't be answered with any certainty as it likely had a cultural reason, the same way the earlier figure of 8 shields used by the Mycenaeans might seem an odd choice. Shields often carried particular designs - the most famous being the inverted V-shape of Spartan hoplites - and emblems - particularly popular was the gorgon from Greek mythology with its association with changing the onlooker into stone. Hoplite soldiers used the phalanx formation to be effective in war with fewer soldiers. ![]() The gladius' short reach, combined with the necessity to get up close and personal to use the shield as a primary weapon, means a larger shield (curved to fit around the body, works better. Hoplites (Ancient Greek: : hoplíts) were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. The gladius is strictly a thrusting weapon, so restriction of arm movements is no longer of significance. The opponent is mauled by the shield, it's top edge and boss in particular used to wear an opponent down until his guard drops and the gladius can be slipped under his ribs. These hoplites were basically citizen-soldiers. Thus, hoplite may also imply an armored man. What was the origin of the hoplite shield The word hoplite was derived from the word hoplon meaning an item of armor or equipment. The greater reach of the spear also keeps the opponent at bay, so less defensive coverage is necessary.įor Roman Legionnaires of the classic period, the shield is actually the primary weapon, the gladius (short sword) secondary. The Greek Laconia Shield is a wood shield of Greek design, making it a symbol of personal preference to have in your look. Because of the many different ways in which a spear was used by a hoplite in offence, in and out of formation, a lighter round shield was more suitable by providing less interference with the spear use. Judge Dredd™, Sláine™, STRONTIUM DOG™ Rebellion A/S, ©Rebellion A/S, All rights reserved.For a hoplite, the spear is the primary weapon and the shield only a secondary weapon, being primarily defensive. The backstrap already has a Greek helmet instead of a Roman. 2000AD® 2000AD is a registered trade mark ® and © Rebellion A/S All rights reserved. just swap the image of the roman helmet for a Hoplite Helmet and call it Spartan glock. K-9 image © BBC/Bob Baker/Dave Martin 1977. Cyberman image © BBC/Kit Pedler/Gerry Davis 1966. The term ‘hoplite’ itself is problematic: it refers to a heavily-armed warrior with shield and spear, but that’s about it. BBC, DOCTOR WHO (word marks, logos and devices), TARDIS, DALEKS, CYBERMAN and K-9 (word marks and devices) are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. I could write an entire book on the subject. Warlord Games, Bolt Action, Pike & Shotte, Hail Caesar, Cruel Seas, Black Powder, Black Powder Epic Battles, Black Seas, Warlords of Erehwon, Blood Red Skies, SPQR, Beyond the Gates of Antares, Gates of Antares, Algoryn, Boromite, Lavamite, Isorian Shard, Concord, Ghar, NuHu and Freeborn are either ® or ™, and/or © Warlord Games Limited, variably registered around the world. ![]() Ancient Greek Hoplite shield transfers Decals Sheet WARLORD GAMES. * Free Shipping may not apply to all products. Greek Hoplite Shields Etsy Check out our greek hoplite shields selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Ancient Greek Hoplite shield transfers Decals Sheet WARLORD GAMES. * Warlord Medals not available until approved. A hoplite typically had a bronze, muscled breastplate, a helmet This fact meant that. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |