Aspis or Hoplon

[carvel2]

Bit tired so forgive if its spelt wrong..
Read 'Killer of Men' and the author was adamant that Greek Hoplites carried an Aspis not a hoplon. Will do a google search but wondered what the collective wisdom thought...

[Cubster]

It was my understanding that 'Aspis' was the correct terminology for the shield itself, whereas 'Hoplon' rightly referred to the general kit carried to battle (including the shield).

[Big Al]

From what I know they are one and the same. Different words for the same device, so choose your preference. Of course, the soldiers are known as Hoplites and not Asplites, apparently named after the shield that they carried. Some people can get very precious because they want to be controversial or make people think.

[carvel2]

Cheers ...makes sense : )
I found this ...
http://www.4hoplites.com/Aspis.htm
They say ..
'The word hoplon really signifies the tools of war in the wider sense, so whilst a Hoplite's shield is, technically, a hoplon, so is his spear, his helmet and his sword. The more correct term for a shield is an Aspis and a Hoplite is a Hoplite because he carries the tools of war. Essentially, in modern parlance, a 'man at arms'.
HOWEVER...
There are those that would argue otherwise '

Should have guessed somebody in the word of re enactment would be 'dressing up' ( no slur intended) as Greek Hoplites

[carvel2]

not quite an aspis/hoplon... but interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeKuy36OG_g&feature=related
The hero in killer of men choses this shield to be different in battle and mark himself out as an old fashioned hero..

oooo and this.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpkrq9-u67o&feature=related
some interesting close shaves with the wind!
Does this mean I can paint the helmets of any Greeks I may (or may not) buy ???
I've noticed a lot of figures with bright helmets....is this legit?

[Big Al]

Cheers ...makes sense : )
I found this ...
http://www.4hoplites.com/Aspis.htm
They say ..
'The word hoplon really signifies the tools of war in the wider sense, so whilst a Hoplite's shield is, technically, a hoplon, so is his spear, his helmet and his sword. The more correct term for a shield is an Aspis and a Hoplite is a Hoplite because he carries the tools of war. Essentially, in modern parlance, a 'man at arms'.
HOWEVER...
There are those that would argue otherwise '

Should have guessed somebody in the word of re enactment would be 'dressing up' ( no slur intended) as Greek Hoplites

One thing though. A Peltast is also named after the shield carried, but he too is a 'Man at Arms', so why doesn't he have the term Hoplite? After all he is also carrying the tools of war with an Aspis of a different shape.

[carvel2]

Excellent stuff Big Al! The truth will out : )

[Invisible officer]

The Greek word for shield is Aspis (Άσπις).

Hoplon (Όπλον) is the word for all military equipment. Panoplia (Πανοπλία) is the stuff the Greek soldier has to possess to be rated a fully armed man.

In modern Greek Hoplo (όπλο) stands for all arms, today mostly used for firearms.

And the pelta (πέλτη) is just a special shield. As you all know used by the poor that had not the money to buy the Panoplia. That the Peltast became for some time the more usefull fighter was not reflected in social reputation.
In ancient Greek comedy the Peltast became the fool, the thief, the

[carvel2]

@ invisible.... cheers

[DOGGED]

Aspis.
As it's said, Hoplites were so because of their equipment. Peltasts were so becausse of their specialization.
The Boeotian video is very interesting and another demonstration of the usefulness of reenactment for experimentation in history. WE do know more about the ancient times by applying common sense and rational thinking to the items we use and the context in which we are (read the context we reenact). boeotian shields were more something of individual character. Their use by a formation should require a lot of more training that was usual and its advantages only really come into play in individual combat.
Helmets were painted, it's plenty of examples both in reenactment and historical sources. You'll see pictures of ancient vases which depict warriors with what look as scaled and painted helmets.
Aspis were painted in a variety of motifs also, even in the inside.
Now go buy a good magnifying glass and paint some lovely aspis!