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Shield: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Shield
The oldest surviving shields date to the Bronze Age, yet the very first prototype likely emerged during the Late Neolithic Age as a simple protection device against hand weapons like swords, axes, and maces. These early iterations were not made of metal, which is often assumed, but rather from wood, animal hide, woven reeds, wicker, or even turtle shells. The Yetholm-type shields of the Bronze Age and the Iron Age Battersea shield are examples of metal shields that survive today, but many experts believe these were ceremonial objects rather than practical battlefield tools. The primary function of these ancient shields was to block attacks from ranged weapons like sling-stones and arrows, as well as close-combat strikes. In the 14th to 13th century BC, the Sards or Shardana, serving as mercenaries for the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, utilized both large and small round shields against the Hittites, demonstrating that the shield was already a versatile tool of war by this time. The Mycenaean Greeks developed two distinct types of shields: the figure-of-eight shield and a rectangular tower shield. These were constructed from a wicker frame reinforced with leather, covering the warrior from head to foot and offering substantial protection in hand-to-hand combat. The figure-of-eight shield, depicted in 15th century BC wall paintings in Athens, and the tower shield represented a significant evolution in defensive technology, allowing warriors to close one or more lines of engagement during combat.
The Phalanx and The Tortoise
The Ancient Greek hoplites revolutionized warfare with the aspis, a round, bowl-shaped wooden shield reinforced with bronze. This shield was not merely a personal defense tool but the cornerstone of the Greek phalanx formation, used by the Spartans to create a wall of protection that covered not only the individual but also their comrades to the left. The aspis allowed for a tactical density that made the Greek infantry nearly impenetrable to frontal assaults. Meanwhile, the heavily armored Roman legionaries carried large shields known as scuta. During the early republican era, these shields were oval, but they gradually evolved into the familiar rectangular shape seen in the early Imperial legions. The Romans utilized these shields to create a testudo, or tortoise formation, where large groups of soldiers enclosed themselves in an armored box to provide protection against missiles and allow for approaches under heavy fire. This formation turned the shield into a mobile fortress, a strategy that defined Roman military dominance for centuries. In the early European Middle Ages, typical shields were round and made from light, non-splitting wood like linden, fir, alder, or poplar. These were often reinforced with leather cover on one or both sides and occasionally featured metal rims and a metal shield boss. The boss could be used as a secondary weapon by punching with the shield, adding an offensive capability to the defensive object. These shields were often used in formation, forming a wall of shields that could deflect incoming blows and protect the group.
The oldest surviving shields date to the Bronze Age. The very first prototype likely emerged during the Late Neolithic Age as a simple protection device against hand weapons like swords, axes, and maces.
What materials were used to make early shields before metal became common?
Early iterations were not made of metal but rather from wood, animal hide, woven reeds, wicker, or even turtle shells. The Yetholm-type shields of the Bronze Age and the Iron Age Battersea shield are examples of metal shields that survive today.
How did the Ancient Greek hoplites use the aspis shield in warfare?
The Ancient Greek hoplites used the aspis, a round, bowl-shaped wooden shield reinforced with bronze, as the cornerstone of the Greek phalanx formation. This shield was used by the Spartans to create a wall of protection that covered not only the individual but also their comrades to the left.
What is the origin of the term swashbuckler in relation to shield history?
The term swashbuckler originated from the use of the buckler, which continued well into the 16th century. The buckler is a small round shield, typically between 8 and 16 inches in diameter, and was one of the few types of shields usually made of metal.
How did Zulu warriors use shields during the 19th century?
Zulu warriors carried large lightweight shields called Ishlangu made from a single ox hide supported by a wooden spine. This was used in combination with a short spear, known as an iklwa, and/or club.
What are the two main types of modern police shields used today?
The first type is the riot shield, which is used for riot control and can be made from metal or polymers such as polycarbonate Lexan or Makrolon or boPET Mylar. The second type is the bullet-resistant ballistic shield, also called tactical shield, which is typically manufactured from advanced synthetics such as Kevlar.
As body armor improved, the shield evolved to meet the changing needs of the battlefield, leading to the development of the kite shield around the 10th century. The Normans introduced this shield, which was rounded at the top and tapered at the bottom, giving some protection to the user's legs and making it especially suited for horsemen whose legs would otherwise be vulnerable. The kite shield predominantly featured enarmes, leather straps used to grip the shield tight to the arm, and was used by both foot and mounted troops until the end of the 12th century. As more efficient limb armor became available, shields grew shorter and were eventually replaced by the 14th century. The heater shield style, inspired by the kite shield, became the familiar shape of the symbolic heraldic shield still used today. Specialized shapes like the bouche, which had a lance rest cut into the upper corner to help guide it in combat or tournament, emerged during this period. Free-standing shields called pavises, propped up on stands, were used by medieval crossbowmen who needed protection while reloading. In a shift toward mobility, some armored foot knights gave up shields entirely in favor of two-handed weapons, while others adopted the buckler. The buckler is a small round shield, typically between 8 and 16 inches in diameter, and was one of the few types of shields usually made of metal. Small and light, it was easily carried by being hung from a belt and gave little protection from missiles, but it was reserved for hand-to-hand combat where it served both for protection and offense. The term swashbuckler originated from the use of the buckler, which continued well into the 16th century.
The Hide And The Horn
In Sub-Saharan Africa, shields varied in shape and size, primarily to deflect spears, reflecting local traditions and available resources. In southern Africa, Zulu shields were made of hide and were especially long and broad, often covering much of the warrior's body, while Nguni shields were generally oval. The Tswana, from present-day Botswana and northwestern South Africa, used hourglass-shaped shields, and the Pedi of Limpopo preferred apron-shaped designs. Sotho shields were smaller and used in the highland regions of Lesotho and nearby areas. During the 19th century, non-industrial cultures with little access to guns were still using war shields. Zulu warriors carried large lightweight shields called Ishlangu made from a single ox hide supported by a wooden spine. This was used in combination with a short spear, known as an iklwa, and/or club. Other African shields include Glagwa from Cameroon or Nguba from Congo. The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria traditionally crafted shields from woven palm stems. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Igbo warriors wielded bows, arrows, swords, javelins, and firearms, with their shields often large enough to cover a warrior from head to toe. According to M. D. W. Jeffreys in his study describing Ibo Warfare, there were two main types of shields commonly used by Igbo warriors: the large, sturdy wooden shields mainly for protecting their homes, and the lighter, more portable wicker shields suited for use in battle or raids. The heavier wooden shields were generally too heavy and impractical to carry during raids or battles, while the lighter wicker shields were portable and suited for combat situations. Beyond protection, shields symbolized authority and tribal identity and were often used in ceremonies and dance, making them important cultural and artistic objects. In various African cultural tribes, sound played a key role in both warfare and ritual, with Nguni warriors striking their shields to create rhythmic beats.
The Woven And The Wicker
Traditional Southeast Asian shields reflected the martial traditions of specific ethnic groups and the environments they inhabited. Malay and related maritime peoples used circular rattan shields made from tightly-woven rattan or wood known as taming. This type of shield was suited to sword and spear combat in Malaysia and Indonesia. Tribal groups in the Philippines such as the Moro, Lumad, and Visayan people also favored the taming shield variety. Shield traditions in the Philippines reflect clear regional differences. In the southern islands, Moro communities produced round, oblong, and rectangular shields. The round examples are associated with Islamic influences rather than Malaysian, and most were cut from solid wood and strengthened with rattan edging. Large wooden body shields, often hexagonal and called keliau, kelibit, or telawang, were used by Austronesian ethnic groups in Indonesia and Malaysia, including Dayak peoples of Borneo such as the Kenyah, Kayan, Ot Danum, and Ngaju people. These shields were not merely defensive tools but were integral to the cultural identity of the people who wielded them. The construction of shields was shaped by available resources, methods of combat, and cultural identity, creating a diverse array of defensive technologies across the region. Even after the introduction of gunpowder and firearms to the battlefield, shields continued to be used by certain groups, such as the Scottish Highland fighters who liked to wield small shields known as targes in the 18th century. As late as the 19th century, some non-industrialized peoples, such as Zulu warriors, employed them when waging wars, proving that the shield remained a relevant tool of war long after the advent of modern firearms.
The Modern Wall
In the 20th and 21st century, shields have been used by military and police units that specialize in anti-terrorist actions, hostage rescue, riot control, and siege-breaking. Shields for protection from armed attack are still used by many police forces around the world, typically intended for two broadly distinct purposes. The first type, riot shields, are used for riot control and can be made from metal or polymers such as polycarbonate Lexan or Makrolon or boPET Mylar. These typically offer protection from relatively large and low velocity projectiles, such as rocks and bottles, as well as blows from fists or clubs. Synthetic riot shields are normally transparent, allowing full use of the shield without obstructing vision. Similarly, metal riot shields often have a small window at eye level for this purpose. These riot shields are most commonly used to block and push back crowds when the users stand in a wall to block protesters, and to protect against shrapnel, projectiles like stones and bricks, molotov cocktails, and during hand-to-hand combat. The second type of modern police shield is the bullet-resistant ballistic shield, also called tactical shield. These shields are typically manufactured from advanced synthetics such as Kevlar and are designed to be bulletproof, or at least bullet resistant. Two types of shields are available: light level IIIA shields are designed to stop pistol cartridges, while heavy level III and IV shields are designed to stop rifle cartridges. Tactical shields often have a firing port so that the officer holding the shield can fire a weapon while being protected by the shield, and they often have a bulletproof glass viewing port. They are typically employed by specialist police, such as SWAT teams in high risk entry and siege scenarios, such as hostage rescue and breaching gang compounds, as well as in antiterrorism operations. Law enforcement shields often have a large signs stating POLICE or the name of a force, such as US MARSHALS, to indicate that the user is a law enforcement officer.