Greek Round Shield (Hoplon)

Type Object Region Greece Time c. -499–-200

The large round shield of ancient Greek heavy infantry, with a wooden core covered in ox-hide and rimmed in bronze, about a meter across, strapped to…

Timeline

c. -499–-480Greek city-states · GreeceCitizen heavy infantry of the various city-states were commonly equipped with the hoplon round shield, its face often painted with the city-state's emblem, becoming a symbol of identity and military obligation.
-490–-479Greek battlefields · GreeceIn battles such as Marathon and Thermopylae, the hoplon round shield combined with the spear formed the core of phalanx defense, effectively resisting Persian arrows and close-assault charges.
c. -450–-200Greece · GreeceClassical-period craftsmen mass-produced round shields with standardized techniques; archaeological finds show the bronze rim fittings and grip structures to be highly consistent.

Sources

Greek and Roman Military Equipment: From the Trojan War to the Fall of Constantinople — M. C. Bishop, J. C. N. Coulston (2006)
The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare, Volume 1 — Philip Sabin, Hans van Wees, Michael Whitby (2007)