Medieval Shields

This is my shield, I used a black background with a silver out line. I spray painted the eagle on.

   

As I was running out of ideas for my project, I decided to get an idea from one of my favorite toys.

 

I started out by taping two pieces of cardboard together. Then, I coated it in fiberglass. For the painting, I made a base coat of light tan, and then checkered it with tan-yellow. I used a dark green for the dragon, then outlined everything.

This is the third and final shield. The colors are white and silver with a gold crown. I gave this shield a more classic design for the knight in shinning armor.

Ancient Battles - Movie

We used all of my Greek and Roman armor, and put it all together to make a fun short video right before Thanksgiving break.  Our friends came over and we had a lot of fun!  It was really cold and windy, but we only lost one shield.  And then we got hot pizza for lunch!

Here are the special features, where I tell about the armor used and all of the actors talk about how we made the film.  The special features film is always the best part of movie day!

Here is the video itself.

Imagine a historical figure is brought back to life. Who is it? What's their favorite mobile app?

Ictinus was a Greek architect during the golden age of Athens.  He and Callicrates were the main architects of the Athenian acropolis, more specifically the Parthenon. Ictinus was also the architect of the temple to Apollo at Bassae, one of the first structures to use the Corinthian column. The building was commissioned by Pericles, a prominent statesman and general during the golden age of Athens, who wanted a grand temple for their patron goddess, Athena. It is said he himself turned the Delian League into the Athenian Empire. 

When designing a building, whether to a god or any normal person, one would like to know what your building looks like before you spend hours of labor building the structure only to find it in a shape you don’t like. You could draw it out to see, but that only shows a two-dimensional shape. You could make a scale model, but that is time consuming and you can’t walk into a model. So a 3D design program would be Ictinus' favorite architectural app. Graphisoft has created a 3-Dimensional Architecture program called BIMx. BIMx allows an architect to create an entire building and view it inside and out in the first person, allowing an architect to make minor changes quickly and view the finished product before it’s ever built. I’m sure both Ictinus and Callicrates would have greatly appreciated this when they designed the Parthenon!

Ancient Roman Costume & Weaponry Updated

This is the new and improved version of legionare armor

These are the individual pieces 

• helmet 
• breast plate
• shield 
• spear
• centurion underamor  

The Scutum is a shield that was used by the centurions in Ancient Rome and was made to protect the whole body. 

This is centurion submaralis or underarmor which was used to protect your body from the armor and your upper legs.

Above is a tunic which was the most common clothing at the time it was worn under the armor.

Medieval Weaponry

Medieval Flail

Cut several round card board circles together until it makes an appears in a sphere like shape.then stick several toothpicks in it until it looks like a spiky ball. 

Cut this and tape it too your spiky ball

Take strips of aluminum foil and twist them into a circle.

Connect several of these links together to make a chain.

Then connect it to the ball and handle and then its done.

Medieval Mace

Medieval Battle Ax

Start by cutting the blade. Then cover it in aluminum foil

For the handle cut a long rectangular piece and roll it into a shaft tape it so it will stay together. Tape down the blades and your done.

Rapiers

The Rapiers 

For the handle and blade use an oil dipstick. Then cut off the wire

Then make a guard using card board and tape. It should look like this.

Then paint the handle black and for a more traditional style add 2 rings on the front.

Ancient Greek Costume & Weaponry

As the Spartans are the most recognized Greek warrior, I decided to focus my armor on them.  Below is a picture of the finished product.  These are the individual pieces and some info...

• helmet:  This was used to protect the head.  The top piece is called a "horsehair plume."
• breastplate:  This was originally was made to fit exactly to the body, which is why it shows the muscles.
• hoplon:  Round shields called hoplons were made for close combat.  This is modeled after their original design.
• xiphos: This type of sword is known as the xiphos.  It was mainly used by the Greek Hoplites. 
• leg armor:

This is Centurion underarmor, which is mainly used in the Centurion outfit, but can also be used in this costume. 

front & side views

without weapons &  a simple tunic (the most common clothing at the time - it was worn under the armor)

These are a few modifications that I have made to improve my Greek armor and weapons in strength, durability, and historical accuracy.

 This shield and the shield next to it used to be the same thing until i took one of them, repaired it, removed the inaccurate 2D design, and repainted it.

In the following pictures we have the originals form the greek and roman battles movie followed by their upgraded replacements.