Hoplite Shield

This detail from a painting on an Archaic-Age Greek vase shows warriors carrying the large circular shields and long thrusting spears characteristic of Greek heavy infantry (hoplites). To make the warriors look more heroic, they are shown without the torso armor that they wore in battle. Shields were composites of metal, wood, and hide, with a decoration on the outer side to express the warrior’s pride. Hoplites held their heavy shields by putting their left arm through one strap in the middle of the reverse side and grasping another one at the edge. They kept their shields in place as protection when lined up in the battle line next to their fellow soldiers, but they could also swing them around as weapons in close combat. (Detail of a Corinthian vase, c. 600 B.C.E. [terracotta] / Louvre, Paris, France / Peter Willi / Bridgeman Images.)