04-22-2008, 04:15 AM
In terms of setting standards, this is the Dipylon as seen on geometric vases.
http://faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/art1 ... ipylon.jpg
This was most likely held in a single grip like that "boetian" above. Hittite shields are not dissimilar and held in a single grip.
The later "boetian" which most of us are thinking of, and which surely is simply art in the later period, shows the double grip.
You can see from the image below that the double grip in the direction of the long axis of the shield is a handicap. The area of coverage is rather small, and half the shield sticks out to the left like a wing when the shield is brought to the ready position familiar from the aspis.
Many later examples of this from art are almost exactly like an aspis, but with the rim cut and shallow scallops. If you were to cut an aspis like this you would weaken it considerably- there would need to be a compelling reason to do so. By the way, you'll see that what Connolly thinks are "stretchers" and evidence for their being a real type can simply be a representation of the familiar stylized rope-truss we see all the time is aspis- keeping the shield from expanding along the long axis, not collapsing inward from the ends. Even in the shield below, which I do not believe existed, the artist understands the concept.
http://faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/art1 ... ipylon.jpg
This was most likely held in a single grip like that "boetian" above. Hittite shields are not dissimilar and held in a single grip.
The later "boetian" which most of us are thinking of, and which surely is simply art in the later period, shows the double grip.
You can see from the image below that the double grip in the direction of the long axis of the shield is a handicap. The area of coverage is rather small, and half the shield sticks out to the left like a wing when the shield is brought to the ready position familiar from the aspis.
Many later examples of this from art are almost exactly like an aspis, but with the rim cut and shallow scallops. If you were to cut an aspis like this you would weaken it considerably- there would need to be a compelling reason to do so. By the way, you'll see that what Connolly thinks are "stretchers" and evidence for their being a real type can simply be a representation of the familiar stylized rope-truss we see all the time is aspis- keeping the shield from expanding along the long axis, not collapsing inward from the ends. Even in the shield below, which I do not believe existed, the artist understands the concept.
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
