Ancient Greek Shields Struck Fear Into Enemy

Ancient Greek Shields Struck Fear Into Enemy

Ancient Greek pottery portraying  Achilles and Penthesileia by Exekias, c. 540 BC; British Museum, London. Credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen/Public domain As far back as the eighth century BC, the ancient Greeks had invented a large, round shield called an aspis that would serve as an essential part of warfare through the Hellenistic era. The designs, or blazons, on these shields would strike fear in the hearts of their enemies. Often called an “Argive” …