06-09-2005, 12:51 PM
I don't seem to be able to vote in the poll, but when I made my pelta I opted for the "make it as big as you can handle" option.
More specifically, I studied as many vase paintings depicting pelta as I could find (pondered pelta painted pottery if you prefer) and it seemed to me that in most of the depictions the armband was more or less centered on the pelta. From there I decided that the radius of an individual's pelta would perhaps have been about equal to the distance from the inside of the elbow to the fingertips - it seems sensible to have your shield be proportional to your body.
Anyway, my shield has a very nice balance to it. I can move it around very quickly when I rotate my arm. Actually I can move it around very quickly by making just about any sort of swatting motion - a good feature in a shield!
It also provides me with good coverage when I have it slung over my back.
You can see me with my pelta in Lepidina's and Danno Ulpius'pictures from Roman Days.
Cheers,
Dan
More specifically, I studied as many vase paintings depicting pelta as I could find (pondered pelta painted pottery if you prefer) and it seemed to me that in most of the depictions the armband was more or less centered on the pelta. From there I decided that the radius of an individual's pelta would perhaps have been about equal to the distance from the inside of the elbow to the fingertips - it seems sensible to have your shield be proportional to your body.
Anyway, my shield has a very nice balance to it. I can move it around very quickly when I rotate my arm. Actually I can move it around very quickly by making just about any sort of swatting motion - a good feature in a shield!
It also provides me with good coverage when I have it slung over my back.You can see me with my pelta in Lepidina's and Danno Ulpius'pictures from Roman Days.
Cheers,
Dan
Dan Zeidler
Legio XX
Legio XX
