The shield is known as the oldest defense weapon that has been used as protection from other offensive weapons in attacks and battles. It originates from the Sumerian era and was very popular in the West until the seventeenth century with the spread of firearms, thus causing it to become obsolete.
Its way of use is to embrace the left arm and be able to cover the body of the attacks it may receive without preventing the right arm from being used to execute the counterattack.
The shield has always been used by practically all cultures in humanity for defense in battle, whether it is melee or long distance, it is an effective defense when it comes to protecting the fighter from the attacks that it can receive because of it. of weapons.
WHAT ARE ITS PARTS?
- 1Parts of the Shield
- 1Umbo
- 2Weapons
- 3Thiracol
- 4Counter
- 5Radial reinforcements
Parts of the Shield
There are different types of shields, however the medieval shield is known as the basic and main one from which the other shields were created. Its parts are as follows:
Umbo
Also called umbona is a piece commonly made of metal that is located in the central part of the outside of the shields with the purpose of adding an offensive character to it. It began to be used in ancient Greece specifically in the shields of hoplite infantry. Later the Roman legions adopted it since it made it easier for them to break through the combatants using the umbo and thus be able to attack with the gladio or the sword.
Weapons
They are straps made of leather grip that are tied to the back of the shields and were used throughout the medieval period. They were a breakthrough in shield technology because prior to weapons, shields only had one bar protruding from the umbo. These straps were kept in the same position supported by the screen lining, the riveting that ran through the skin and in the reinforcements with the square-cut washers.
Thiracol
It is a long length strap commonly made of leather and used to hang the shield around the neck or shoulder when not in use. During combat it helped the soldier to free herself to be able to use a weapon that required the use of both hands without having to release the shield, thanks to this mechanism the shield could be easily taken back when needed.
Tip
It was a girl made of steel or iron whose function was to provide resistance to the shield. It was used during the late Middle Ages and was located on the edges of the shields of water drops and tears. Its measurements were approximately 1.5 mm thick and were manufactured in groups of three that were assigned to the rear, front and in the curve.
Radial reinforcements
As the name implies, these were reinforcements made of metal that were placed around the shield with the function of improving and strengthening its resistance.
