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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Ragnar on October 28, 2019, 05:54:03 AM

Title: Late Bronze Age - Mycenaean shield query
Post by: Ragnar on October 28, 2019, 05:54:03 AM

One of my interests in wargaming is the Mycenaeans of the period roughly coinciding with the siege of Troy.

Whilst the cow hide shield covering and the occasional red shield seems to be iconic to the period, I find it a little boring and would prefer to paint some shields with some more interesting designs.  I am guessing that there really is only evidence of cow hide shields, although I haven't yet come across any painted in a single colour.

I guess my question is; why wouldn't the Mycenaean culture have employed some symbolism as shield designs?  A quick google of Mycenaean pottery shows horses, octupi, warriors, bulls and floral types, so imagery is not unknown to them.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

Edit:  Also pottery with sphinxes and griffins!  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mycenaean_pottery_krater,_sphinxes,_chariot,_1300%E2%80%931200_BC,_BM_Cat_Vases_C397,_142876.jpg

Title: Re: Late Bronze Age - Mycenaean shield query
Post by: LeadAsbestos on October 28, 2019, 04:29:20 PM

Do what you want! There is no real evidence of any sort, so do your own thing.

Title: Re: Late Bronze Age - Mycenaean shield query
Post by: swiftnick on October 29, 2019, 08:07:44 AM

Agreed! Looking at wall paintings the ancients seemed to love the use of bright colours. Do I can just imagine some young noble deciding to paint something on his shield.

Title: Re: Late Bronze Age - Mycenaean shield query
Post by: FierceKitty on October 29, 2019, 10:34:50 AM

I have 180 pikemen in my bronze age Greek army. The effect of lots of hide shields is pretty attractive, actually. I have cheated a bit and gone for similar hide colours by regiment, but it's not impossible that this happened.

Minoan paintings do seem to show only natural hide effects, and as I remember it the only shield in Homer with representational art on it is that of Achilles.

For reference: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=108071.msg1350294#msg1350294

Title: Re: Late Bronze Age - Mycenaean shield query
Post by: Ragnar on October 31, 2019, 07:51:06 PM

Thanks all for your input.

FierceKitty, I wasn't aware of that detail about Achilles shield so I shall look into that further.

Title: Re: Late Bronze Age - Mycenaean shield query
Post by: FierceKitty on November 01, 2019, 12:30:57 AM

It's very detailed, but it takes a god to make it! See Iliad, book 18, ll. 478-608.

Title: Re: Late Bronze Age - Mycenaean shield query
Post by: Ragnar on November 01, 2019, 04:33:18 AM

Thanks!