06-02-2010, 04:24 PM
I have probably posted this before link from old RAT in May 2007. The big problem in the modern world seems to be getting bronze at the required "thinness". Craig Sitch of Manning Imperial tried hunting down commercially available bronze all over the planet but the sheets are:
1) the right thickness for spinning but not large enough to cover the shield face or
2) they are large enough to cover the shield face but far too thick to spin effectively
In the end he used sheet brass. I am not sure how Craig secured it or whether he hammered or lathed it on. It was actually in Sekunda's Hoplite book that we come to know about the use of lathes. The quote is from Aristophanes, Birds line 491. Here the Greek word for "shield maker", torneutoluraspidopêgos is used. It roughly translates as "one who puts together lyres and shields by turning". If a purpose built lathe was not in use a large potters wheel could be used to do this. The Greeks introduced the fast turning potter's wheel in 900 BC. A kylix in the British Nuseum London B 432 from 490 shows this type of wheel. [url:2rgdl503]http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/imbrowser[/url]
1) the right thickness for spinning but not large enough to cover the shield face or
2) they are large enough to cover the shield face but far too thick to spin effectively
In the end he used sheet brass. I am not sure how Craig secured it or whether he hammered or lathed it on. It was actually in Sekunda's Hoplite book that we come to know about the use of lathes. The quote is from Aristophanes, Birds line 491. Here the Greek word for "shield maker", torneutoluraspidopêgos is used. It roughly translates as "one who puts together lyres and shields by turning". If a purpose built lathe was not in use a large potters wheel could be used to do this. The Greeks introduced the fast turning potter's wheel in 900 BC. A kylix in the British Nuseum London B 432 from 490 shows this type of wheel. [url:2rgdl503]http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/imbrowser[/url]
Peter Raftos
