| The shield is one of the most useful tools a melee | | | | shields. These defensive tools were typically made |
| fighter can have. While the image of a shield may | | | | of layers of laminated wood, and often featured |
| be somewhat lacking in popularity compared to | | | | a knight's symbols. These larger, wooden arms |
| that of a massive two-handed weapon or agile | | | | were replaced by small metal bucklers, meant not |
| dual wielding, the fact is that a man with a shield | | | | for protection against missiles but exclusively for |
| and the skill the wield it can become nearly | | | | melee combat, as the advance of armor made |
| impervious to attacks. We'll discuss shields from | | | | carrying something heavier than a buckler |
| throughout history, from Greek hoplons to those | | | | unnecessary and impractical. |
| carried by modern riot squads. | | | | In the modern era, shields continue to serve to |
| For nearly as long as weapons have existed, | | | | protect against missile attacks, although today the |
| shields have existed. Wood and animal hide based | | | | projectiles are not arrows. Law enforcement |
| ones made up the bulk of ancient shields, although | | | | teams often have two kinds of shields available to |
| occasionally metal, wicker, and even turtle shells | | | | them. Riot shields. which are meant as protect |
| were used, though metal was almost exclusively | | | | officers during riots from thrown weapons and |
| used for ceremonial purposes. | | | | allow them to contract a wall of shields to block |
| The early shields of civilization came in a wide | | | | rampaging people, and bullet-proof tactical shields, |
| variety of shapes and sizes. Greek hoplites carried | | | | meant for protection in high risk situations such as |
| round, bowl-shaped wooden shields known as | | | | siege breaches and other similar situations. |
| either an aspis or a hoplon. Roman legionnaires | | | | I hope you have a bit more respect now for the |
| carried large rectangular shields known as scuta, | | | | relatively unpopular cousin to swords and axes. A |
| which they would use to create impervious | | | | legionnaire without his scutum would be even |
| formations completely surrounded by their | | | | worse off than one without his gladius, because |
| comrade's scuta. | | | | the loss would mean the weakening of his entire |
| The most popular ones in modern fantasy and | | | | formation! This is just one example of shields |
| historical imagery are those of medieval knights; | | | | being more valuable even than the weapon's they |
| the kite and its successor the heater, which | | | | were paired with. |
| serves as the inspiration for modern heraldric | | | | |