You are here: ReconstructionsMilitariaShield

Shield

Made of linden boards, covered with natural linen using animal glue. Gesso for the drawing made of a mix of animal glue and champagne chalk. Drawing painted using tempera of natural pigments, secured with shellac and flax varnish. The pattern of the drawing on the basis of fresco in church of Ayioi Anargyroi in Kastoria, about 1180 A.D.

The illustration on the shield  (its color or the simple simeia signs) distinguished soldiers from a given military formation. It is the simeia that can be identified on the shields of warriors in Kastoria1.

 

Shield

Reconstruction photo
(Shield made by R. Wenta)

Church of Ayioi Anargyroi in Kastoria, about 1180 A.D.

 

Kastoria

 

Catch modelled after frescoes of shields from western side of the St. Panteleimon monastery in Nerezi 1164 A.D. Strips made of cattle leather, tackered, iron forged buckle, hand pillow made by hand of whitened hand-woven linen, inside wool felt formed by hand.

 

Shield

Reconstruction photo
(Shield made by R. Wenta)

Western wall of the nave of the St. Panteleimon in Nerezi, 1164 A.D.

  fresco - Nerezi
     

 


1  Piotr Ł. Grotowski, Arms and Armour of the Warrior Saints, Tradition and Innovation in Byzantine Iconography (843–1261), Kraków 2011.

(c) 2015-2016 BYZANTOLOGY.EU (c) by SALIS