5/16/2023 0 Comments Hoplite shield material![]() ![]() The second wealthiest class, the hippeis (“horsemen”), earned enough from their land to maintain a horse and so fought as cavalry the third wealthiest group, the zeugitai, were able to afford the equipment of a hoplite the wealthiest class, the pentakosiomedimnoi (“five-hundred-bushel men”), supplied the leaders for the armed forces and the poorest class, the thetes, were hired laborers who served as oarsmen in the Athenian fleet, or as archers and light-armed men on land.īacked up by archers and light-armed troops, the hoplite phalanx remained the most important fighting unit for centuries. In the early sixth century B.C., the archon Solon instituted four classes defined by income and gave each class a proportionate measure of political responsibility. In Athens, military service was determined by a citizen’s social and economic position. Furthermore, the initiatives taken during the latter part of the sixth century to standardize the Homeric epics in written form fostered a broader interest in heroic subject matter. In nearly every medium of Attic art of the sixth century B.C., the hoplite and warfare feature prominently, as military service was a primary distinction of citizenship-a mark of status and often of wealth, as well as a means of attaining glory. The heavy bronze shield, which was secured on the left arm and hand by a metal band on its inner rim, was the most important part of a hoplite’s panoply, as it was his chief defense. The typical panoply included an eight- to ten-foot thrusting spear with an iron tip and butt, and bronze armor consisting of a helmet, cuirass (chest armor), greaves (shin guards), and a large shield about 30 inches in diameter. Known as hoplites, these soldiers were characteristically equipped with about seventy pounds of armor, most of which was made of bronze. Xyston and Sarissa spears were so heavy that the Phalangite attached the Pelta to their arm so that they didn't need to use their hands.As the economic resources of Greek city-states and individuals increased during the seventh century B.C., armies of foot soldiers were formed within the wealthier city-states. The smaller shield also allowed for tighter formations. Philip II introduced lighter gear to his Phalangite hoplites in order to give them more mobility. Spartan shields were massive because Spartans specialized in defenses and armor. Unlike the Spartans the Macedonians were imperialistic and thus had to invade enemy territory. It was the most devastating weapon against the unarmored Ninja and was still effective against the Samurai in terms of kills, but had significantly less kills most likely to the Samurai's heavy armor. The Spartans used his Aspis in the simulations to great effect, protecting himself from the deadly projectile attacks of the Ninja and the crushing blows of the Samurai's kanabo, while also using it offensively to bash and throw around both opponents. In Sparta, a routing soldier most likely was disgraced and executed for cowardliness. These two facts gave birth to the phrase "Come back with your shield or on it." which Spartan women told their husbands when they left for battle. In the event of a retreat, the shield would usually be the first thing discarded. Vital to maintaining the effectiveness of the Greek phalanx, the left third of the shield would protect the right flank of the man to the holder's left, hence why losing it was considered to be a disgrace.Īfter the battle, the aspis was often used as a stretcher to carry the dead and wounded from the battlefield. Its large size covered a large portion of the holder's body and its weight (24 lbs in the show) allowed it to deliver crushing blows. In Greek warfare, the aspis was the most important piece of equipment of the hoplite (heavy infantry). ![]() Athenians stopped this practice after the Battle of Delium 424BC Athenian Hoplites became confused by the lack of unity among the shield icons, causing confusion and friendly fire (arguably the first recorded incidence of friendly fire in warfare). It was common for hoplites to draw beasts mythical animals on the shields. The Athenians normally had their own unique painting for each individual. (In Greek, the Spartans were known as "Laodiceans.") Thebian Hoplites had a club as their national icon. The shield was usually decorated with an emblem the lambda (a Greek letter equivalent to L) being the most well-known, was for Spartan hoplites. A cloth would sometimes be placed on the shield to absorb arrows that attempted to strike under the shield. The shield had a strap in the middle of the shield and a handle at the right edge. The shield was made of several layers of wood covered in a layer of bronze with a layer of leather in between, to absorb shock. ![]()
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