Double hand grips on the aspis

[PMBardunias]

If you've looked at many images on hoplites in vases, you've probably seen representations of of aspises with a grip on the left edge of the shield as well as the right. In my opinion these result from an artist portraying the left side of the antilabe incorrectly or partially and are not accurate. The shield could not simply be turned around since if nothing else your lambda becomes an upsilon.

There are many "ropes" shown inside aspises in art. There is often just a grip, or two grips on opposite sides. Usually there is an antilabe running around the inner face through 4-8 rings. Sometimes as well as an antilabe we see one or usually two straps that are presumably to sling the shield by.

But, perhaps this is incorrect and they really had such grips. Here is a vase image that shows two men gripping the handles of a shield at opposite ends. The fact that the structure is an integral part of the action makes it more likely to be accurate, but still perhaps a poor representation of the left side antilabe.

Opinions?