"Weapons in Ancient Hellas(Greece)"

Good morning to all !

I was willling to write about this for many days now but i found it difficult to get free images in order to enrich it.
So this post is about weaponry use in ancient Hellas. Here we go !

DORY-ΔΟΡΥ

It was a wooden(wild cheries tree mostly ) spear with 2 edges and it was used already in 1100 BC as an offencive weapon. Its total lenght was 2-2.5 meters and had 2 edges .
The main edge itself was 25-50 cm and it was called LOGHI-ΛΟΓΧΗ. On the other side of the spear there had a shorter edge, 20-40 cm long so it can be nailed to the earth or in case the spear was broken to be used as a weapon. This edge had a pyramid sheme and was called OURIAHOS-ΟΥΡΙΑΧΟΣ or STYRAKAS-ΣΤΥΡΑΚΑΣ or SAYROTERAS-ΣΑΥΡΩΤΗΡΑΣ.
The edges were first made of brass but later they were made of iron to be stronger. After 4000 BC , Dory became longer and in case of Macedonian Falanx it had at least 5 meters length.

XIFOS-ΞΙΦΟΣ

source

It was an elongated sharp double edge plate(sword), with a handle usually framed by wood. While the swords were originally made of brass, the 11th century began to be made of iron. They also called it AOR-ΆΟΡ or FASGANON-ΦΑΣΓΑΝΟΝ.
On 1000 BC the swords were about 90 cm long and thin while in 800 BC were thicker and shorter 48-68 cm.
In Macedonian phalanx later , sword was about 55 cm with one edge.
This weapon was used in a close combat ,when the Hoplite had "lost" his DORY or could not use it.

EGHEREDIO-ΕΓΧΕΙΡΙΔΙΟ

This was a second assistant weapon like Xiphos but shorter.

AKONTIO-ΑΚΟΝΤΙΟ

This was a javelin with a length of 1,35m to 1,80m with one edge shorter from Dory's. It was lighter from Dory and they were throwing it to enemy from distance. Fidings show that it was used since 700 BC. Homer refers to it very often in ILIAS as a heavy infantry weapon. Usually warriors had 2 or 3 Akontio of different length to throw from distance and they were keeping the heaviest (DORY) for a close combat. The average distance te could be thrown with accuracy , was 20 meters.

TOXO-ΤΟΞΟ

It was a bow made of skull wood , hard but also elastic, and consisted of a curved part strong and flexible. It was mostly used in Crete island who had the most famous bowers before 800 BC .
The chord(NEVRA-ΝΕΥΡΑ) of the bow was tighten in the 2 edges and was made of animal nerves or twisted guts .
The arrows were called Ios-Ίος or OESTOS-OΪΣΤΟΣ. On the one side there was an edge made of brass or iron and had 45cm to 60 cm lenght while on the other side there was a cut called Haragma-Χάραγμα in order to be put in the chord. The arrows were carried and stored iside a case called Faretra-Φαρέτρα which could have up to 20 arrows. The case of the bow was called *GORETOS-ΓΩΡΥΤΟΣ.
Well trained bowers could be accurate in 200 meters.

SFENDONE-ΣΦΕΝΔΟΝΗ

It was piece of leather which had tightened in each side a 60 cm long strap. The operator was placing the missle made of rock firstly and later from metal, into the center of the skin and holding the two straps by the hand . He was revolving the weapon and in a sudden moment he was releasing one of the 2 straps sending the missle to target. This weapon had range but not accuracy.

ASPIS-ΑΣΠΙΣ

This weapon was a shield usually in the shape of a disk with sufficient durability and size to protect the warrior. Firstly it was made of tree branches, mainly of willow, knit together and covered with plaster, bovine leather and copper.Later It was made of oxen leather layers and metal.
On 1100 to 1000 BC there ere 3 types of ASPIS. Round-Tower shape-Eight shape.
On 9000 and 800 BC there were round-rectangular - square-2 gates shape. In the late of the 8th century BC the sield was round ,big and metal made with a handler inside in the middle.
This weapon was called HOPLON-ΟΠΛΟΝ.

*all images except Xiphos are from pixabay
information site

Thanks for reading. Have a nice day !