A Greek Bronze Shield Boss (or Umbo)

An extremely rare piece of Hellenistic armour, this bronze roundel would have been applied as the central element of a circular shield. The principal design of the faceplate is an anchor, the symbol of the Seleucid dynasty, which is well known from their coins. Around the shield is the inscription 'belonging to king Antiochus', a clear statement of the allegiance of the soldier carrying the shield (that being, to King Antiochus I of Syria). The anchor was one of the most beloved symbols of the Seleucid dynasty, who inherited the Eastern Portion of Alexander the Great's empire.