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Aspis

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For the poem traditionally attributed to Hesiod, see the Shield of Heracles

An aspis (Ancient Greek: ασπίς) is the generic term for the word shield. The aspis, which is carried by Greek infantry (hoplites) of various periods, is often referred to as an hoplon (Greek: όπλον).

According to Diodorus Siculus:

But exposed as he was to many and fierce attacks he nevertheless was not overborne by the numbers of the foe. Though he took two blows on the breastplate, one on the helmet, and three on the shield [hoplon] which he had brought from the temple of Athena, he still did not give in, but borne up by an exaltation of spirit surmounted every danger. - Diodorus Siculus. The Library, 17.21.2.

Construction

A hoplon shield was a deeply-dished shield made of wood. Often, particularly later on, it was covered in a thin layer of bronze. In some periods, the convention was to decorate the aspis; in others, it was usually left plain. Probably the most famous aspis decoration is that of the Spartans: a red capital lambda (Λ) - at least, from the late 5th century BC. Athenian hoplites commonly used the Little Owl, while the shields of Theban hoplites were sometimes decorated with a sphinx, or the club of Herakles.