The owl was the symbol of Athena, goddess of wisdom, intelligence and resourcefulness. She was also the patron deity of Athens, the city to which she gave her name and the gift of the olive. The owl was frequently depicted in the art and coinage of the city, especially from the 6th century BC onwards, usually with the first three lettersin Greek ??? of the city's name. Those letters also feature in the decoration on this shield. The rim is decorated with a band of the meandros Greek key design. Based on the ancient Greek shield, the aspis or hoplon would originally have been made from wood covered in bronze. Measuring approximately 1m in diameter it would not only have protected the bearer, but formed part of the phalanx, the formidable military formation!

dimensions: Diameter of the shield: 12cm Depth to wall: 2.5cm