Aspis cover.

[John Conyard]

I have three illustrations showing a shield cover, all from the front and therefore unable to varify the use of a strap attached to the cover itself. So it is a possible method.

The illustration of Antimachos acting as page to Neoptolemos by the Lykaon Painter of around 440 BC, has Antimachos carrying the shield by lengths of cord attached to the internal face of the aspis. I also believed this to be the carrying method. But I have to carry my aspis around a great deal. You can easily use the cords as shown on the Attic vase, but the porpax stickls in your back. If I could dismount the porpax this system would work, and packing the internal face of the shield with a large cloak helps. But currently I just tie some cords to the porpax and carry the aspis off and supported by my shoulder. I think the weight of the aspis would rip any carrying strap off my shield cover.

Of course the shield cover could be stronger, or the aspis lighter ........