Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Happy Wanderer on November 21, 2016, 12:22:49 PM
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Gents,
I happened upon this interesting webpage that described Spartan shield device.
https://web.archive.org/web/20090829010327/http://www.300spartanwarriors.com/battleofthermopylaeart/spartanmilitaryart.html
(https://web.archive.org/web/20090829010327im_/http://www.300spartanwarriors.com/images/495_300spartanwarriors.com_-_Map_Sparta.jpg)
It details that Spartan shields for each mora were in fact a multitude of different types based upon their polis location or role in Spartan society. The classic Lamda is, it says, reserved for New Citizen hoplites. The Spartiate device is not the universally accepted Lambda at all.
It says
"Hoplite shields of Sparta...
This detailed map lists all the major poleis (cities) which were situated within the Peloponnesian Peninsula during the Classical Age of Greece. Special emphasis is placed on the districts from Sparta which assigned the citizens that were responsible for maintaining the elite warrior class of the ancient Greek world.
The recruitment center of each mora, which is defined as a unit of hoplites, selected their male citizens between the ages of 20-60 for induction into the Spartan army. Their respective regimental emblem is identified by the corresponding shield which has been researched extensively, thereby providing an image of unparalleled aesthetics and accuracy".
I also found this interesting page that seems to confirm the above premise. It says
"The Lakedemonian Army was among the first to divide the phalanx into tactical units: The MORAE, numerically equivalent to a modern army battalion, they seem to have also administrative units like the regiments of the Napoleonic Era. Each one had its own shield device that was based on the symbol of the deity whose cult was dominant in the recruiting area."
https://stefanosskarmintzos.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/spartan-shield-devices-episimon/
This same page makes reference to the use of the classic Lambda by saying...
"The widely known Lamda appeared late in the Peloponnesian War, first perhaps on the shields of Brasidas Neodamodeis (newly enfranchised ex-helots). It seems to be the Spartan symbol In the Hellenistic period too."
In the Osprey on the Spartan army (Nick Sekunda) he states the classic Lambda was used.
Does anyone have any info on the way Spartan shield devices were allocated to the respective regiments or would the Lambda be the device used on all Spartan forces of the Peloponnesian War? Most wargame Spartan armies tend to be like this...is that right?
Thoughts appreciated before I stick on the wrong transfers!
Cheers
HW
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Interesting stuff that's almost entirely made up.
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His big assumption is that those lead seals "had to be" shield devices.
They might be shield devices - but there's no real proof.
Still, if you want your early Spartans to look less uniform, I doubt anyone will mind.
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Good find,very interesting :)
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Well there is almost no real evidence that Spartans had Lambda blazons but it has become a popular culture norm and it looks cool so I go with it anyway.