Peltarion (shield)
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Peltast with Peltarion(3rd century BC)[1] | |
Soldier with a peltarion and a modified sickle[2] |
A peltarion is a crescent-shaped wicker shield called pelta (Latin: peltarion). The shield was carried by light Ancient Greek infantry known as Peltast. Xenophon describes the shield as "round", but such depictions in art are very rare. Also, some Persian and other Eastern troops used shields similar to the pelte. However it seems this crescent light shield had its origins in Thrace, where most peltasts came from.