79 HISTORY OF METALLURGY N Non-ferrous Metals. 2020. No. 2. on-ferrous Metals. 2020. No. 2. pp. 79–83 pp. 79–83 Introduction T he article presents an attempt to combine in the re- search both archaeological evidences and written sources relating to the ancient Greek shield. We will indicate the differences between the names “” and “ἀί”, mentioned in the epic poetry; reveal the main properties and construction of the bronze-plated hoplite shield and some preceding types, and trace the im- pact of the shield phenomenon on the Theban mytho-his- tory by the example of the Croesus’ gifts to Amphiaraus, mentioned by Herodotus (Hdt. 1.52). There is a conside- rable historiography on the first two issues, so our excursus is selective and collective in character and takes into ac- count modern achievements. We hope that it will be inte- resting to the readers of the journal to address themselves to the history of metallurgy and the main characteristics of the bronze-plated shields. As regards the production technology and perfor- mance attributes based on hypothetical reconstructions of the shields, which are mentioned in Homeric poems, we refer the readers to the following book: Paipetis S. A. The Unknown Technology in Homer. Dordrecht, 2010. 210 p. (for shields and other protective armament see sub- section: Part 4). As for Thebes, we offer a study which let expand an understanding of difficult questions about comparison of “” and “ἀί”. Besides, we will consider cultural and historical as well as historical and educational consti- tuents of the shield as an artifact that has been in Hero- dotus’ time in Thebes. Literary tradition and archaeology Before presenting the types of the shields known from archaeological data, let us pay attention to the terms that denote shields in the epic tradition (Homeric poems, works of Hesiod and Aeschylus). There is an idea regarding the Iliad and Odyssey that they were created approximately in the middle or last part of the VIII century BC. However, the historiographical trend is such that a number of re- searchers propose to date these works to the time around 700 BC or even later, up to 678 BC as terminus post quem and around 630 BC as terminus ante quem [26; 16, p. 131; 149–152]. As regards the works of Hesiod, the near dating is assumed: around 700 BC or a little later, since the date can be attributed to the Lelantine war [18; 16, p. 152]. The creation time of Aeschylus’ Seven Against Thebes refers to the period from 475 to 470 BC [27, p. 81; 10, p. 233; 1, p. 307-308]. In that way, the period from around 700 to around 470 BC, or the time from the Ar- chaic to the Early Classical Period is considered in rela- tion to the terms that denote the shield in literary sources. Already in Homeric poems, shields are designated by the terms “” or “ἀί” that are the most used in epic poetry. In modern research, these terms are usually considered as distant reflection of once different types of the shields. Sometimes, “ἀί” is thought originally The Greek shield as a metal artifact and its reflection in the story of the Croesus’ gifts in Thebes A. Yu. Mozhajsky, Associate Professor, Department of Ancient History and Byzantium 1 , Senior Researcher 2 , e-mail: amozhayskiy@hse.ru V. K. Pichugina, Leading Researcher 2 , e-mail: pichugina_V@mail.ru 1 Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russia, Moscow. 2 Institute for Strategy of Education Development of the Russian Academy of Education, Russia, Moscow. The article is devoted to the study of archaeological evidences and literary tradition regarding ancient Greek shields as metal artifacts or as the artifacts made by the use of metal. Presented is an attempt at interpreting the names “” (sakos) and “ἀί” (aspis), by which ancient authors called the Greek shields in the Archaic and Classical Periods. New data on the dating of some artefacts let assume that a number of shields, the production technology of which goes back to the Late Bronze Age or made later (in the Geometric or Archaic Periods) may have been dis- played in sanctuaries under the influence of the artifacts from the Late Bronze Age. The authors propose a version according to which Herodotus, describing the Croesus’ gifts in Thebes, uses the word “ά”, thereby emphasizing the uncommonness of the golden shield, its heroic antiquity and the reliability of the Amphiaraus’ shield. Archaeological parallels and the words “ὰ[ἀ]” from an inscription found in Thebes suggest that it was a round shield. This artifact had not only a religious, but also a historical and educational function, being an article that bounds up the Thebans with their heroic past. Key words: shield, bronze, gold, sakos, aspis, Thebes, Amphiaraus, Croesus, Herodotus, Apollo Ismenios, Delphi. DOI: 10.17580/nfm.2020.02.10 © Mozhajsky A. Yu., Pichugina V. K., 2020