01-28-2009, 02:38 PM
Wow. I disagree. I think that you can chart the design, construction, and development of the Boeotian from soup to nuts. And my suspicion is that the disappearance of the Boeotian is a clue to the major change in Hoplite fighting. I'd even go so far as to say that by 450, they were "mythical". But not in 550. And probably not at Marathon...
As for construction, well, I think that all you need is an oxhide and some wood and a steam-bender. Apparently the aspis at Baden is constructed this way,and the current academic theory is that all the Greek shields started as wicker (actually woven flat willow strips) with oxhide over them. I suspect (but I won't know until I build one) that you will get the whole dished look, etc. And that a forged bronze central spine will hold a porpax and antelabe.
The article in the Cambridge Companion to Archaic Greece includes several quotes about later hoplites building temporary aspides out of brush or wicker or willow strips. The transition would be--willow strips woven, then willow strips laid side by side and pegged to the same running 90 degrees out underneath (two layers), both with heavy hide covers shaped in steam and a bronze rim to hold the shape--then the same with a bronze face, then a solid wood core with a bronze face, and finally, a solid wood core with a non-bronze face and bronze rim. All of these developments would match the developments in industrialization and certain tools, according to my Greek and Roman engineering texts, and would also match current views of trends in fighting and in NUMBERS. (As the hoplite numbers grow, the need for a mass produced aspis grows). And the Boeotian vanishes when the phalanx actually gets tight enough to mean that a man whose porpax runs 90 degrees out from everyone else can't stand in the line of battle.
Anyway, it interests me, but I won't by pushing it--I could be wrong. I'd merely say--show me another piece of military kit in antiquity that is widely represented in art but didn't exist.
(Actually, I can think of one... the chariot, at least in Archaic and Classical)
Giannis, I got your e-mail. I'll send you one!
As for construction, well, I think that all you need is an oxhide and some wood and a steam-bender. Apparently the aspis at Baden is constructed this way,and the current academic theory is that all the Greek shields started as wicker (actually woven flat willow strips) with oxhide over them. I suspect (but I won't know until I build one) that you will get the whole dished look, etc. And that a forged bronze central spine will hold a porpax and antelabe.
The article in the Cambridge Companion to Archaic Greece includes several quotes about later hoplites building temporary aspides out of brush or wicker or willow strips. The transition would be--willow strips woven, then willow strips laid side by side and pegged to the same running 90 degrees out underneath (two layers), both with heavy hide covers shaped in steam and a bronze rim to hold the shape--then the same with a bronze face, then a solid wood core with a bronze face, and finally, a solid wood core with a non-bronze face and bronze rim. All of these developments would match the developments in industrialization and certain tools, according to my Greek and Roman engineering texts, and would also match current views of trends in fighting and in NUMBERS. (As the hoplite numbers grow, the need for a mass produced aspis grows). And the Boeotian vanishes when the phalanx actually gets tight enough to mean that a man whose porpax runs 90 degrees out from everyone else can't stand in the line of battle.
Anyway, it interests me, but I won't by pushing it--I could be wrong. I'd merely say--show me another piece of military kit in antiquity that is widely represented in art but didn't exist.
(Actually, I can think of one... the chariot, at least in Archaic and Classical)
Giannis, I got your e-mail. I'll send you one!
Qui plus fait, miex vault.
