In Greece this type of shield disappeared only with the emergence of the Argive shield at the end of the eighth century BC, while in Western Europe remained in use for several centuries more.Ī Herzsprung shield, found in Central Europe. The typical Herzsprung shields of proto-Celtic Europe were ornamented with hammered decorations of concentric circles, interrupted by an interpolation of ‘V’ or ‘U’ scheme. It was made of bronze and it was usually decorated with hammered decorations, often elaborate. The Herzsprung shield was the most expensive type during the long time of its use in Greece, covering the Late Mycenaean and the Geometric period. It has been estimated (almost a certainty) that the famous shield of Achilles described by Homer in the Iliad, belonged to that type. However, the Later Mycenaean Herzsprung shields were proved to be of local origin and not of Central European origin as is often thought to be. The Herzsprung shield types belong mostly to the arsenal of the famous Urnfield culture of Central and Western Europe and also to the arsenal of the Mycenaean World, perhaps deriving from the interaction of these two cultural areas. This is a very general name for a group of shield types that were used in most parts of the Western, Central and Southeast Europe, including Greece and the Aegean world. The ‘Herzsprung’ type of shield is named after a site in northern Germany, where the earliest archaeological finds of this type were excavated. The same emblems were popular to the Etruscans, the Early Romans, the Latins and other Italian hoplites (Reenactment by the Australian Association of Historical studies Ancienthoplitiko n ). We can see a unique variety of popular Greek emblems on the shields of the hoplites: the lion, the snake, the laurel, the octopus, Gorgo etc. During the Greek Archaic Era (7 th cent – 479 BC), the Dipylon shield was made mostly of bronze and had a smaller size: that is the “Boeotian” type of shield, named after Boeotia, where it was popular.Ī r eenactment of a hoplite phalanx, with hoplite shields in detail. The shape of the Dipylon shield denotes its origins from the famous Minoan and Mycenaean eight-shaped shield. These belts were called “telamones” (τελαμώνες). The shield had at least one central handle for its holding by the warrior in battle, and one or more shoulder belts, in order to hang it on his back when not used. Notches also facilitated the hanging (suspension) of the Dipylon shield on the warrior’s back, in order not to restrict his elbows when he walked. In the middle of its surface, the Dipylon shield had two semicircular notches for the easier handling of the offensive weapons (spear or sword). It had a curved form in order to embrace the warrior’s body.
Despite its size, the Dipylon shield was light due to its materials. It was made of wicker and leather, without excluding further strengthening of wooden parts. It was a large and long shield, covering the warrior from chin to knees. The Dipylon shield is named after the Athenian Dipylon gate, where a number of pottery with depictions of that type of shield, was discovered. The shields of the Geometric period belonged to two main types: the “Dipylon” type shield and the “Herzsprung” type. The Geometric Period (11th-8th centuries BC) preceded the invention of the hoplite warfare and the hoplite phalanx (about 700 BC). In the interior of the hoplite shield, you can see the “antilave” ( «αντιλαβή », handle/handgrip), the “porpax” ( «πόρπαξ », fastener for the elbow) and the “telamons” ( «τελαμώνες », shoulder belts)/ (Paris, Louvre Museum)
He is armed with a bronze cuirass, a hoplite sword and a hoplite shield of the Argive type. A vase painting depicting a hoplite, 5th century BC.
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