Hoplon
The hoplon or aspis was a large round convex shield characteristic of Greek hoplites. Hoplon could mean equipment more generally; aspis was the usual Greek word for a shield.
Dimensions, weight and covering varied. In close formation the shield protected its owner and partly a neighbour. This did not make running or advancing with it impossible. Attitudes towards its loss also depended on society and circumstances: Spartan sayings were not a single law governing all Greek armies.
“With it or on it”, attributed to Spartan mothers, expresses an ideal of steadfastness. It should be distinguished from a literal account of every recovery of the dead or punishment for lost equipment.
Hoplite shield from the museum in Olympia. The front surface of the shield is decorated with a bronze embossed overlay with the image of Phobos. 6th century BC
Terracotta relief depicting Achilles with a shield. Metropolitan Museum of Art,New York. Around 600 BC.
Agios Athanasios (a village 20 km west of Thessaloniki). Late 4th century BCThe base of the hoplon was made of solid wood and consisted of connected boards with a thickness of about 0.5 cm. The most common manufacturing option: the wooden base was covered with leather on the inside, and covered with bronze or iron on the outside. Sometimes the outer side was also covered with leather (usually bovine), and only the edge was made of metal. On the inner side, in the center, there was a wide bronze handle-porpax, where the hand was pushed up to the elbow. The warrior's hand was gripping the second hilt, located at the edge of the antilabe shield. It was made from a cord or leather strap passed through two bronze loops. Often there were rings around the perimeter of the shield, through which a cord was passed, forming a carrying cord. On this cord, the shield could be thrown over the shoulder, for more comfortable movement on hikes. The hoplon was convex enough that the upper edge rested on the warrior's shoulder, making the shield easier to hold.
Related topics
Literature and sources
John Warry. Wars of antiquity. From the Greco-Persian wars to the fall of Rome / Translated from English by T. Barakina, A. Nikitina, S. Samchenko et al. - Moscow: Eksmo,2009. - 2nd ed. - 232 p.: ill. - Series "Military history of mankind". — ISBN 978-5-699-30727-2. Connolly Peter. Greece and Rome. Encyclopedia of military history / Translated from English by S. Lopukhova, A. S. Khromova. - Moscow: Eksmo-Press,2000. - 320 p.: ill. — ISBN 5-04-005183-2. Lavrenov S. Ya. Armies of Ancient Greece. - Moscow: OOO "AST"; Astrel,2001. - 48 p.: ill. - "Military-historical series "Soldat"". — ISBN 5-17-004689-8. Neil Sekunda. Army of Sparta / Translated from English by A.V. Krasulina. - Moscow: OOO "AST"; Astrel,2004. - 72 p.: ill. - Series "Elite troops". — ISBN 5-17-023262-4. Tkachuk T. M. Ancient weapons and armor: a new age. Types of ancient weapons and methods of making its copies in modern conditions. - Moscow: Donetsk AST; Stalker,2007. - 250 p.: ill. - ISBN 5-17-029834-X.
Agios Athanasios (a village 20 km west of Thessaloniki). Late 4th century BCInterested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions.
