05-11-2012, 05:00 AM
Hi Dan,
Regarding the shield, for our reconstruction we used wood of 1 - 1.2 cm width. Diameter is 90 cm. The total weight with metal parts is 7 kilos.
We tested the shield (as well as the rest of the armor) in "real" battle conditions n Biskupin Festival 2011, where we were performing two 30-minute falanx drills / fights every day. 20 fight shows in 10 days... the shield was heavily damaged and needed extensive repairs on the wood surface: some hits were almost 1 cm deep, the outer ring was disconnected from the main body (held in place only by internal leather...)
The experience was very enlightening though: a (really) strong person with full armor (20 kilos) can effectively use the 7 kilos shield in fight drills for 20 minutes, before looking for some rest. Without heavy armor, around 30 minutes.
I our humble opinion, any heavier Hoplite shield has no real meaning in terms of protection and usability. Of course other people might have other experiences and results.
About copper metal used, you are right: the most accurate option would be a copper/bronze alloy, not the pure copper we used. The decision to use copper was based on artistic and production reasons. We have produced also bronze armor that makes the warrior "shine like God"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koryvantes/6963297747
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koryvantes/6820917522
We simply wanted to experiment with copper for this armor.
We have plans to use custom alloys in the future, closer to the composition of ancient alloys. We have tested in small scale, following Academic papers, a rather complex and expensive process. The bronze we find in market today is of different composition than ancient alloys, and much more difficult to work for complex items (less elastic, fragile)
Adonis
Regarding the shield, for our reconstruction we used wood of 1 - 1.2 cm width. Diameter is 90 cm. The total weight with metal parts is 7 kilos.
We tested the shield (as well as the rest of the armor) in "real" battle conditions n Biskupin Festival 2011, where we were performing two 30-minute falanx drills / fights every day. 20 fight shows in 10 days... the shield was heavily damaged and needed extensive repairs on the wood surface: some hits were almost 1 cm deep, the outer ring was disconnected from the main body (held in place only by internal leather...)
The experience was very enlightening though: a (really) strong person with full armor (20 kilos) can effectively use the 7 kilos shield in fight drills for 20 minutes, before looking for some rest. Without heavy armor, around 30 minutes.
I our humble opinion, any heavier Hoplite shield has no real meaning in terms of protection and usability. Of course other people might have other experiences and results.
About copper metal used, you are right: the most accurate option would be a copper/bronze alloy, not the pure copper we used. The decision to use copper was based on artistic and production reasons. We have produced also bronze armor that makes the warrior "shine like God"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koryvantes/6963297747
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koryvantes/6820917522
We simply wanted to experiment with copper for this armor.
We have plans to use custom alloys in the future, closer to the composition of ancient alloys. We have tested in small scale, following Academic papers, a rather complex and expensive process. The bronze we find in market today is of different composition than ancient alloys, and much more difficult to work for complex items (less elastic, fragile)
Adonis
Antonis Aliades
KORYVANTES Association
KORYVANTES Association
