Hoplite Shield

The hoplite was the citizen soldier in ancient Greece from the 7th to the 4th century BC. He was the backbone of the infantry, and the backbone of the Classical Greek military in general. As such, they had to be right in the heat of the battle. This fact is greatly reflected in their equipment. The shield - called Aspis koilé - formed the core of their equipment granting protection for the whole torso. It was a deeply dished wooden shield with a flat or angled rim, a band for the arm (porpax) at centre, and a handgrip (antilabe) near the edge. The best shields had a full facing of thin bronze sheet, which indicates a greater purchasing power of the owner.