Bailey
A Fixture
I'm working on a Spartan figure and I'm debating what I should put on the shield. I thought I'd poll the planet figure community and see if you had an opinion. The figure is Greco-Persian wars era, so around 480 BC.
I feel like there are two options:
1) A lambda (the uniform city blazon)
2) A unique family design (animal, geometric design, etc)
Option 1, the lambda, is what shows up in popular culture (tv and movies like 300) and was at some point used by the actual Spartans. However this was not always the case. The Osprey book on the Spartan army speculates that the Spartans switched over to the uniform state shield design around 475-450 BC, but gives no reference or evidence for this choice of dates. The only firm date they give is in regards to a reference to the lambda shield made by the poet Eupolis who died in 412 BC. So the use of the lambda for Spartan shields occurred no later than 412 BC.
I remember hearing the argument (I think by Professor Kagan), that the state symbol on the shields would most likely have started with the state providing equipment to the soldiers (perhaps allies or auxiliaries). I can believe this would have eventually lead to all Spartans, even the full citizens who would provide their own equipment, opting to use the state symbol. If I was to guess, I'd say this transition started around the time of the earthquake of 464 and the following helot revolt. Professor Paul Cartledge proposes that these events lead the Spartans to reorganize their army and integrate the perioeci into the citizen hoplite regiments. So I can imagine that the state supplied the perioeci (non-citizens, but not slaves) with shields bearing the lambda symbol, leading to adoption of the symbol by the entire army (probably by all hoplites by the time of the Peloponnesian war, 431 BC).
This is largely based on the arguments of others and my opinion. So I welcome others to disagree and offer alternative ideas.
Option 2, the family design, seems to have been widely used on shields throughout ancient Greece. There is one story of a Spartan painting a life size fly on his shield. The story goes, when others saw it they accused him of cowardice, saying he wanted to hide his identity from the enemy. The Spartan responded that he would be so close to his foes that the fly would look like a lion. So we can assume that the Spartans did use personal/family designs to identify themselves.
As for what design to use, there are a couple relics that may be useful guides. A miniature terracotta shield was found at Sparta with a black, white, and red spiral pattern. Thousands of lead figurines where found at the Artemis Orthia shrine in Spartan. The figures bear shield designs including gorgon heads and animals (boars, ox, scorpions, birds, and lions). I think it is safe to assume these represent typical shield designs used by the Spartans prior to the adoption of the state design.
So, my conclusion is that the family design would be more appropriate for a Spartan warrior in 480 BC, not to mention more interesting to paint. But, I am interested to hear other opinions. Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Any suggestions on what family design I should use?
I feel like there are two options:
1) A lambda (the uniform city blazon)
2) A unique family design (animal, geometric design, etc)
Option 1, the lambda, is what shows up in popular culture (tv and movies like 300) and was at some point used by the actual Spartans. However this was not always the case. The Osprey book on the Spartan army speculates that the Spartans switched over to the uniform state shield design around 475-450 BC, but gives no reference or evidence for this choice of dates. The only firm date they give is in regards to a reference to the lambda shield made by the poet Eupolis who died in 412 BC. So the use of the lambda for Spartan shields occurred no later than 412 BC.
I remember hearing the argument (I think by Professor Kagan), that the state symbol on the shields would most likely have started with the state providing equipment to the soldiers (perhaps allies or auxiliaries). I can believe this would have eventually lead to all Spartans, even the full citizens who would provide their own equipment, opting to use the state symbol. If I was to guess, I'd say this transition started around the time of the earthquake of 464 and the following helot revolt. Professor Paul Cartledge proposes that these events lead the Spartans to reorganize their army and integrate the perioeci into the citizen hoplite regiments. So I can imagine that the state supplied the perioeci (non-citizens, but not slaves) with shields bearing the lambda symbol, leading to adoption of the symbol by the entire army (probably by all hoplites by the time of the Peloponnesian war, 431 BC).
This is largely based on the arguments of others and my opinion. So I welcome others to disagree and offer alternative ideas.
Option 2, the family design, seems to have been widely used on shields throughout ancient Greece. There is one story of a Spartan painting a life size fly on his shield. The story goes, when others saw it they accused him of cowardice, saying he wanted to hide his identity from the enemy. The Spartan responded that he would be so close to his foes that the fly would look like a lion. So we can assume that the Spartans did use personal/family designs to identify themselves.
As for what design to use, there are a couple relics that may be useful guides. A miniature terracotta shield was found at Sparta with a black, white, and red spiral pattern. Thousands of lead figurines where found at the Artemis Orthia shrine in Spartan. The figures bear shield designs including gorgon heads and animals (boars, ox, scorpions, birds, and lions). I think it is safe to assume these represent typical shield designs used by the Spartans prior to the adoption of the state design.
So, my conclusion is that the family design would be more appropriate for a Spartan warrior in 480 BC, not to mention more interesting to paint. But, I am interested to hear other opinions. Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Any suggestions on what family design I should use?
