One of the earliest adopters of the aspis outside of Greece were the Etruscans. From about the middle of the seventh century, this type of shield began to appear throughout Etruria, along with other elements of Hellenic kit, such as the heavy and visually-restrictive Corinthian helmet (and its derivatives).

When was the aspis invented?

It was discovered in 1830 near Bomarzo in Lazio, central Italy.

When was the hoplon invented?

Description of the Product

The exact time when hoplitic warfare was developed is uncertain, but according to the prevalent theory it was established sometime during the 8th or 7th century BCE.

Who used the aspis?

The Aspi (also known as a Hoplon) is a large round shield used in Ancient Greece. It was the Weapon of the Spartans.

How was the hoplon made?

acquired his name from the hoplon, a convex circular shield, approximately 3 feet (90 cm) in diameter, made of composite wood and bronze. It was carried on the left arm by means of a bronze strap that passed across the forearm and a rope looped around the inner rim with…

The aspis - a hoplite's shield

16 related questions found

What was a Greek aspis?

An aspis (Ancient Greek: ἀσπίς, plural aspides, ἀσπίδες), sometimes also referred to as an hoplon (Greek: ὅπλον), was the heavy wooden shield used by the infantry in various periods of ancient Greece.

What is the difference between hoplon and aspis?

As nouns the difference between hoplon and aspis

is that hoplon is a type of aspis used by greek hoplites while aspis is a type of round shield borne by ancient greek soldiers.

How much does a Spartan spear weight?

in diameter and weighing as much as 8 kg. This was made of wood or stiff leather, faced with bronze, and was held with the left arm placed through a central band (porpax) and gripped via a strap (antilabe) attached to the shield rim.

How much did a Spartan helmet weight?

Quite. A fully armored Spartan II is Half a ton or 1000ish pounds. Take away the weight of the Spartan themselves 250-300 pounds and your left with 700-750 to play with. I'd put the helmet somewhere between 40 and 60 pounds.

What is a Celtic shield?

Celtic shields were usually oval or elongated oval in shape. They could also be round or hexagon shaped. On the front was usually a hollow wood shield boss to protect the hand. ... The shields were made of wood, usually oak or linden (also called lime). Most often they were covered with leather.

What were Spartan spears made of?

Spears and pikes -- or "sarissas" -- were the primary weapons of the Spartan military and provided long-range capabilities during battles. Both weapons were constructed using wood for the shaft and iron for the pointed ends. The spears often had a bronze spike opposite to the pointed end to help balance the weapons.

What was a hoplon and why was it used as the name to designate a Greek soldier?

“The Greek soldier that was a foot soldier was called a hoplite. These warriors would carry long shields and spears. They got their name because the shield that they carried was called a hoplon.”

What was ancient Greek armor called?

The defensive armour most used consisted of four pieces: helmet (kranos), cuirass (thorax), shield (aspis) and greaves (knimis). A weapon is called hoplon from which panoply and hoplite (a man with weapons) is derived (initially the shield was called hoplon (όπλον) but today hoplon is a general name for weapon).

What does aegis bearing Zeus mean?

aegis, also spelled egis, plural aegises or egises, in ancient Greece, leather cloak or breastplate generally associated with Zeus, the king of the gods, and thus thought to possess supernatural power. Zeus's daughter Athena adopted the aegis for ordinary dress.

What did Spartans have on their shields?

The letter lambda (Λ), standing for Laconia or Lacedaemon, which was painted on the Spartans' shields, was first adopted in 420s BC and quickly became a widely known Spartan symbol. Military families passed on their shields to each generation as family heirlooms.

What is the Greek name for sword?

Makhaira entered classical Latin as machaera, "a sword". The dimachaerus was a type of Roman gladiator that fought with two swords. In modern Greek, μαχαίρι means "knife".

How tall was the average Spartan?

Depending on the type of Spartan the height of a Spartan II (fully armoured) is 7 feet tall (spartan 3) 6'7 feet tall (spartan II) 7 feet tall (spartan 4), and have a reinforced endoskeleton.

What fighting style did the Spartans use?

The Spartans fought in the hoplite style which was the hallmark of ancient Greek warfare. Their massed ranks of men wore body armor and helmets. They carried round shields fixed by a pair of straps to their left arms. Each shield protected the left side of the man holding it and the right side of the man next to him.

How heavy is a Spartan Halo?

Spartan: 200-300 pounds.

How old were Spartan soldiers trained?

At the age of 7, Spartan boys were removed from their parents' homes and began the “agoge,” a state-sponsored training regimen designed to mold them into skilled warriors and moral citizens.

How far is the Spartan spear throw?

The spear throw is the bane of many racers. It is a 20-to-30-foot throw from behind a barricade, often to a target made up of two or three bales of hay.

How much did a Spartan shield way?

Shield. Hoplites carried a large concave shield called an aspis (often referred to as a hoplon), measuring between 80–100 centimetres (31–39 in) in diameter and weighing between 6.5–8 kilograms (14–18 lbs).

Where is Athena's shield?

Athena's Shield is an in-game Item which is purchasable from the shop.

How do you get the Spartan shield in God of War?

To get the different shield skins in God of War, you have to complete the main story of the game on Give Me God of War difficulty. The two shields mentioned above are available for all to unlock; these two aren't part of the bunch you could get in the Deluxe Edition of God of War.

What did ancient Greek shields look like?

The Greek shield of Ancient Greece was called a hoplon or aspis. It was from this word that hoplite (a Greek soldier) is derived. A hoplon was a deeply-dished shield made of wood. Some shields had a thin sheet of bronze on the outer face.