#Greek hoplite shield art skin#
Its Inner side was upholstered in order not to hurt the skin of the head of the soldier with its metal and to better adapt to the hoplite’s head. The spear was used by the hoplite with his right hand raised upwards in order to perform downward blows to the opponent but not to injure the other warriors who were behind him in phalanx formation with the “saurotir”. Usually at the point where the soldier caught the spear a piece of fabric was placed so the spear would not slip because of the sweat of the hoplite’s palm. The spear consisted of a wooden shaft approximately 2 meters long at one end of which an iron tip of length 20 – 40 cm was placed and at the other end there was a portion of iron known as “saurotir” that had similar length and could be used as alternative tip if the portion of the edge to the main peak broke. a handle which the hoplite grabbed with his palm. It bared a socket for holding the arm steady, and the antilavi, i.e. For binding to the left hand they used porpax, a belt within the shield passing through the center of the shield, connecting two diametrically opposed points. The shield was attached to the left hand of the soldier in such a way that the shield’s weight of (7 – 8 kilos, diameter of 90cm-1m) would spread on the entire length of the hand.
Many soldiers used to polish the outer surface of the shield with oil so that it would shine in the sun and look more impressive. The outer surface of the shield, and occasionally the inner surface were decorated with various patterns or emblems. It was made from pieces of interconnected wood, topped with leather and metal. The shield had round shape with a concaved interior and curved exterior surface to ostracize enemy blows. From the above hoplite weapons, the defensive and offensive ones that characterize the soldier are the great round shield and the spear. The soldiers were armed with large round shield, spear, sword, shield, helmet, greaves and rarely armbands and cuffs. The muscular thorax with a downward extension offered adequate protection of the abdomen and the pelvis portion and was usually worn over a leather suit known as “spolada”. Like the breastplate, the muscular plate armor composed of two parts, one for the front of the trunk and one for the back, which snapped together at the hoplite’s side. The muscular plate hoplite armor had a metal embossing of the male body and was usually worn by officers. Many times linothorax was manufactured from leather which was cheaper than linen cloth and gave about the same protection. The linothorax was generally the most appropriate for the warm Greek climate (battles were taking place from mid-spring to early autumn) and also adapted quite well to the body of the soldier. In these cases, the thorax was complex and its weight was similar to that of a metal breastplate or a muscular plate. Some hoplites did not trust the protection provided by the linothorax itself and they the shielded it with pieces of metal (scales) and with metal plates. The linothorax buttoned on the left side of the hoplite’s torso. The linothorax shielded and protected the pelvis by usually a double blade row. The linothorax consisted of successive layers made of linen cloth joined together to create an impermeable layer thickness of about 0,5 cm. Later on the “linothorax” or composite armor and the muscular metal armor appeared.
The thickness of such a metallic armor was less than half a centimeter, offering sufficient protection of the soldier torso, but left his underbelly exposed. The original hoplite armor was usually metal and belonged to the “breastplate” type. In these conflicts, an important role was taken by the hoplites, the heavy infantry of the Greek martial arts. The need of the cities – states for areas of fertile land, brought them numerous times in conflict with each other, especially in disputed border areas between them.
#Greek hoplite shield art manual#
Apart from trade, industry and various manual tasks (potters, carpenters, builders, etc.), the majority of the inhabitants were engaged in agriculture. The Greek cities – states in their vast majority were predominantly rural economies.
The main reasons for this were of economic nature. The cities of the era were virtually constantly at war, sometimes in a greater, sometimes in a lesser degree, entangled in a constant conflict between them. The Greek world in antiquity was a world of continual war.
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