Shield Making

Greek foot soldiers, called hoplites, came to dominate the battlefields of the 6th century BCE. Soldiers stood side by side in rows, holding a shield called an aspis in their left hand and a long spear in their right hand. Hoplite shields were made of wood and bronze, and the middle domed out,m making them useful for shoving at the enemy. They were decorated with images of animals (birds, bulls, rams), gorgons, geometric designs, and more!

Procedures:

Shields can be made out of cardboard or foamboard. The shield shape can be cut out in advance, or students can create their shields as the first step of this activity station.

To make a shield:

Shields should be circular in shape, with a dimeter of about 3 feet. Students can use a pencil, pushpin, and half a yard of yarn to create a compass and draw their shield outline.

Students can draw or build a shield rim about 2 inches wide on the front of their shield. They can use their compass from the first step and subtract 2 inches to outline the rim.

Students can decorate their shields with patterns and images based on primary sources, mythology, representations of their city-state, or their own lives.

To make a shield handle:

Each student should cut two pieces of duct tape that are 5 inches long and two pieces that are 8 inches long. Put the sticky sides of one shorter piece and one longer piece together, leaving sticky tabs at both ends of the long piece. Use the sticky tabs to attach your duct tape to the center of the back of the shield. Repeat the process and place the second handle to the right of the first, near the edge of the shield on the back.

Materials

Cardboard or foamboard
Pencils
Pushpins
Yarn
Yardsticks
Duct tape
Permanent Markers or Acrylic Paints

Considerations:

Students will need a functional shield (with handles) to compete in the hoplite race during the Olympic Games portion of Greek Day.

If using cardboard to construct your shields, begin collecting cardboard early! Ask students to bring in donations of large boxes, check with your school office to pick up boxes after large deliveries, and don't be afraid to call local businesses like appliance or furniture stores.

For a more in-depth tutorial that replicates the domed shape of a real aspis using cardboard, check out this tutorial from Mr. C on YouTube!

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