01-03-2012, 01:25 AM
[attachment=2466]IMG_0553.JPG[/attachment]
[attachment=2465]shielddevelopment055.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2464]shielddevelopment054.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2463]shielddevelopment053.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2462]shielddevelopment041.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2461]shielddevelopment030.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2460]shielddevelopment020.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2459]shielddevelopment013.jpg[/attachment]
Aspis experiments (1st prototype)
The Aspis is an icon of ancient Greek armor & I have noted with interest over the years in RAT the fine discussion &physical attempts at their reconstruction. I think special thanks should go to Mathew Amt for his development of the ring design. Despite the core not being authentic, his design is the least expensive & most expedient way to make an Aspis that is absolutely perfect for reenactment purposes. It is also probably the best way to experiment with different bowl configurations (deep or shallow), of which there is still energetic debate. It is the method I used for my 1st Aspis & it was a rewarding experience.
My experiments since have been devoted to understanding how the actual core may have been made .To this end, like so many others, my points of reference have been primarily the Chigi vase, the Vatican Museum Etruscan Shield and the Roman style shield from the Fayum in Egypt. On these pages a number of interesting & valuable experiments have been presented and even though the method I am presenting here has been mentioned a few times I have as yet to see an actual attempt quite the way I am using. So here goes- this is my contribution to a way in which to construct a perhaps near to authentic Greek Aspis core. I prefer the esthetics of the shallow bowl design, personal evaluation of the archaeological evidence & perhaps a weight savings. The construction is based on 4 overlapping layers of tightly placed slats (the 1st was with Carolina southern pine, the 2nd with poplar as will be the 3rd). Imagine the way in which the British ensign is 2 overlaid crosses. Yellow carpenter’s glue (stand in for hide glue) holds it all together & the rim is separately made of 4 layers of 6 to 7 curved pieces that overlap each other , this then was press fit & pinned onto the bowl. All together there are over 100 pieces of wood that are all unique in shape. Note the 1st shield was made without the aid of any power tools. I decided to do it this way in order to put myself into the work mode of an ancient craftsman but as a result, I caused some damage to my rotator cuff, so now power tools are allowed. The 1st shield weighs 8 kilos & is robust; the 2nd is of poplar which has less specific gravity, weighs less (about 7 kilos) and is a bit more springy. Also all slats are 5mm thick. Because I think there is still too much weight, I’m planning on a new one which should have the same strength, but be constructed of less material – still able to do its intended job. As a result of testing, I have concluded that the 3rd test aspis will be ¼ less thick (either fewer or thinner slates).
In order to be able to perform some objective tests with a quantitative element I have built a gravity impact or – this allows me to evaluate damage done to small test sections and calculate the Kinetic Energy (KE) at the point of impact & referenced this to published energy values for various weapons from antiquity.
The aspis design I am presenting meets the following criteria:
1) Materials & construction are not beyond those available to the craftsmen of the era.
2) Protection against projectile & blunt force can be demonstrated.
3) Because the bowl & rim are separate components, post battle repairs can be attempted.
4) The aspis has enough mass to be used offensively.
5) If I had to protect my sorry hide in battle of the era, this would be my design of choice.
Dimensions: OD =88cm, ID=77cm &depth=12cm. Face of bowl = 2cm & tapering from the shoulder to the edge to 12mm.
The down side is that this method is very time consuming.
I hope the attached pics are of help to clarify the above. Please understand that I am not member of any reenactment group, and look forward to having some online feedback. My immediate interests are mostly academic so my projects proceed at a slow pace & often remain unfinished.
Also if there is interest for more information on my aspis design or the gravity impactor I can follow up.
John Dann
[attachment=2465]shielddevelopment055.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2464]shielddevelopment054.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2463]shielddevelopment053.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2462]shielddevelopment041.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2461]shielddevelopment030.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2460]shielddevelopment020.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2459]shielddevelopment013.jpg[/attachment]
Aspis experiments (1st prototype)
The Aspis is an icon of ancient Greek armor & I have noted with interest over the years in RAT the fine discussion &physical attempts at their reconstruction. I think special thanks should go to Mathew Amt for his development of the ring design. Despite the core not being authentic, his design is the least expensive & most expedient way to make an Aspis that is absolutely perfect for reenactment purposes. It is also probably the best way to experiment with different bowl configurations (deep or shallow), of which there is still energetic debate. It is the method I used for my 1st Aspis & it was a rewarding experience.
My experiments since have been devoted to understanding how the actual core may have been made .To this end, like so many others, my points of reference have been primarily the Chigi vase, the Vatican Museum Etruscan Shield and the Roman style shield from the Fayum in Egypt. On these pages a number of interesting & valuable experiments have been presented and even though the method I am presenting here has been mentioned a few times I have as yet to see an actual attempt quite the way I am using. So here goes- this is my contribution to a way in which to construct a perhaps near to authentic Greek Aspis core. I prefer the esthetics of the shallow bowl design, personal evaluation of the archaeological evidence & perhaps a weight savings. The construction is based on 4 overlapping layers of tightly placed slats (the 1st was with Carolina southern pine, the 2nd with poplar as will be the 3rd). Imagine the way in which the British ensign is 2 overlaid crosses. Yellow carpenter’s glue (stand in for hide glue) holds it all together & the rim is separately made of 4 layers of 6 to 7 curved pieces that overlap each other , this then was press fit & pinned onto the bowl. All together there are over 100 pieces of wood that are all unique in shape. Note the 1st shield was made without the aid of any power tools. I decided to do it this way in order to put myself into the work mode of an ancient craftsman but as a result, I caused some damage to my rotator cuff, so now power tools are allowed. The 1st shield weighs 8 kilos & is robust; the 2nd is of poplar which has less specific gravity, weighs less (about 7 kilos) and is a bit more springy. Also all slats are 5mm thick. Because I think there is still too much weight, I’m planning on a new one which should have the same strength, but be constructed of less material – still able to do its intended job. As a result of testing, I have concluded that the 3rd test aspis will be ¼ less thick (either fewer or thinner slates).
In order to be able to perform some objective tests with a quantitative element I have built a gravity impact or – this allows me to evaluate damage done to small test sections and calculate the Kinetic Energy (KE) at the point of impact & referenced this to published energy values for various weapons from antiquity.
The aspis design I am presenting meets the following criteria:
1) Materials & construction are not beyond those available to the craftsmen of the era.
2) Protection against projectile & blunt force can be demonstrated.
3) Because the bowl & rim are separate components, post battle repairs can be attempted.
4) The aspis has enough mass to be used offensively.
5) If I had to protect my sorry hide in battle of the era, this would be my design of choice.
Dimensions: OD =88cm, ID=77cm &depth=12cm. Face of bowl = 2cm & tapering from the shoulder to the edge to 12mm.
The down side is that this method is very time consuming.
I hope the attached pics are of help to clarify the above. Please understand that I am not member of any reenactment group, and look forward to having some online feedback. My immediate interests are mostly academic so my projects proceed at a slow pace & often remain unfinished.
Also if there is interest for more information on my aspis design or the gravity impactor I can follow up.
John Dann
