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Genevra Kornbluth.
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Last updated
January 16, 2024

Historical Archive: Shields and Armor through the 5th century

Representations follow surviving examples.


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shield ornament: Scythian stag, gold, 6th c. BCE, HNM
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shield ornament: Scythian stag, gold, 6th c. BCE, HNM
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Battersea Shield, bronze with glass inserts, c.350-50 BCE, from the Thames River, BM 1857,0715.1
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Battersea Shield, bronze with glass inserts, c.350-50 BCE, from the Thames River, BM 1857,0715.1
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Battersea Shield, bronze with glass inserts, c.350-50 BCE, from the Thames River, BM 1857,0715.1
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Exekias, black-figure amphora from Vulci with Ajax and Achilles playing dice, c.540-30 BCE, Vat 16757. This work has its own page.
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"Mars of Todi", Etruscan bronze votive figure, late 5th c. BCE, Vat 13886. This work has its own page.
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birth of Athena, Etrusco-Italic bronze mirror back fr. Arezzo, 330-310 BCE, Bologna IT 1073. For details see Bologna.
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aegis: Gonzaga cameo, agate: 2 rulers, 3rd c. BCE or 1st c. BCE/CE, Hermitage ГP-19076, which has its own page
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linothorax and shield, Etruscan cinerary urn: Kadmos and dragon, alabaster, 2nd c. BCE, KHM I 1040a. For other views see KHM.
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mythological phalera with Athena, c.200-100 BCE, Severskaya, Kuban region, MSHM
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cinerary urn with Eteocles and Polynices from Villa della Piene, ceramic with gesso and paint, Etruscan c.150 BCE, KM 0000.00.2608
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denarius of Julius Caesar, 48-47 BCE, MNW 219169 rev
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armor: Victory carrying a trophy from Apollonia (Epirus), Greece, marble, late 1st c. BCE, Louvre Ma 1432. For reverse see Louvre.
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Medici cameo: emperor (Claudius Gothicus or Antoninus Pius?) with genius, sacrificing poss. to Hope, 1st-3rd c., sardonyx cameo in gilded metal, Florence MA 14443. This work has its own page.
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shields: trophy and captive barbarian, funerary relief from Este (Italy), limestone, early 1st c. CE, MFAB 4830. For oblique view see MFAB.
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Augustus of Prima Porta, marble, early 1st c. CE, Vat MV.2290.0.0, which has its own page with trophy
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Gemma Augustea, banded agate cameo, 9/10-12 CE, KHM ANSA IXa 79. This work has its own page.
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Gemma Augustea, banded agate cameo, 9/10-12 CE, KHM ANSA IXa 79. This work has its own page.
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shield/breastplate: Augustus wearing the aegis of Minerva, with medieval diadem, 14-20 CE, banded agate, BM 1867/5-7/484
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armor: grave stone of Vonatorix from Bonn, limestone, 50/60 CE, RLM. For full stone and other details see RLM.
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armor: Lion-headed god, steatite intaglio, 1st-6th c., Kelsey 63.4.8, Bonner 99
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shield: Perseus killing Medusa, marble mythological sarcophagus, Pécs-Aranyhegy (Hungary) mid 2nd c., HNM 62.84.1
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armor: Commodus (161-92), Roman aquamarine profile laureate intaglio, CdM Chab. 2098
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lamp with gladiators, ceramic, 3rd c. Egypt, KM 1971.02.0233
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Caracalla, onyx cameo, 3rd c., Hermitage ГP-12732
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Valerian (253-60) captured by Shapur I (241-72), Sassanian sardonyx cameo, c. 260 CE, CdM Babelon 360
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Mars, 4th c., sapphire intaglio, Florence MA 14723. For modern impression see Florence MA.
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armor: Tetrarchs, porphyry, c.305, San Marco, Venice. This work has its own page.
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Crispus: silver 2 siliquae of Constantinus I, Cologne 319, SMBMünz 18200817
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shield: Roma seated with Victory, Roman niccolo agate intaglio c.330 CE, CdM Chab. 2071
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Passion/tree sarcophagus: Cain and Abel, arrest of Peter, triumphant cross, arrest of Paul, Job; marble, Rome c.360, Vat 28591. For other views see Vatican Museums.
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shield: solidus of Honorius, gold, 384-423, DO. For detail and reverse see DO.
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life of Dionysus, ivory pyxis, 5th c., Bologna pcr 12, which has its own page
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shields: Bacchus and Ariadne, ivory pyxis, 5th-6th c., Trier? KHM X41, which has its own page
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shield, upper right: Szilágy Somlyó amulet chain, gold/rock crystal, prob. c.400-50, poss. late 4th c., KHM VIIb 1. The Szilágy Somlyó treasure has its own page with other views.
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armor: Alaric II the Visigoth (484-507), sapphire, Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum. This work has its own page.
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armor: Thrasamund (496-523), silver Vandal 50 denari, Hermitage OH-З-91683