hoplon

shield

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The hoplon was a convex, circular shield, approximately 3 feet (90 cm) in diameter, made of composite wood and bronze. It was carried by hoplites, who were heavily armed ancient Greek foot soldiers. The hoplon was a crucial piece of equipment for hoplites, who fought in a close formation known as the phalanx. This shield was carried on the left arm by means of a bronze strap and a rope, allowing the soldier to grip it firmly. The hoplon provided significant protection, contributing to the effectiveness of the hoplite phalanx in ancient Greek warfare.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

military technology
Shields
…acquired his name from the hoplon, a convex circular shield, approximately 3 feet (90 cm) in diameter, made of composite wood and bronze. It was carried on the left arm by means of a bronze strap that passed across the forearm and a rope looped around the inner rim with…
Read More
…acquired his name from the hoplon, a convex circular shield, approximately 3 feet (90 cm) in diameter, made of composite wood and bronze. It was carried on the left arm by means of a bronze strap that passed across the forearm and a rope looped around the inner rim with…
Read More