What was the Greek shield called?
Q: What was the Greek shield called?
A: The Greek shield was called a hoplon or aspis.
Q: What was a hoplon made of?
A: A hoplon was made of wood, and some shields had a thin sheet of bronze on the outer face.
Q: What was the purpose of a hoplon?
A: The hoplon shield was designed for a mass of hoplites to push forward into the opposing army, and it was their most essential equipment.
Q: How was the hoplon shield carried?
A: The hoplon shield was carried in the left hand.
Q: What was the most famous decoration on the hoplon shield?
A: The most famous decoration on the hoplon shield is the capital lambda (Λ) of the Spartans.
Q: What other decorations were used on the hoplon shield?
A: Athenians usually used the Little Owl (Athena's sacred bird), while Thebans used a sphinx, or the club of Herakles.
Q: How was the hoplon shield used by Spartans?
A: Spartans used the hoplon shield as a weapon of attack.
