The Pelta

The Pelta
The main form of the pelta
In its typical form, the pelta resembles a half moon
or a small epsilon. One large semi-circle has two
concave indentations in its straight side in the form
of smaller semi-circles. In this way three points arise
which may be shaped in various ways (Fig. 3).
The middle point (the so-called apex or middle
ending) stands out visually in comparison to the two
external points (so-called „handles“ or „endings“),
not least because it features the most ornamentation.
For this reason, the shape of the middle ending will
be the starting point for the following classification.
Other criteria are the colour and shape of the
main pelta body, though these show relatively little
variation. The inner surface („belly“) and convex
surface („back“) are very seldom the object of
ornamentation.
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
The most common pelta type found in Greece
features three upwardly tapered points and appears
in a dark colour (usually blue or black) on a white
background. It’s unusual to find light peltae on a dark
background (Fig. 4).
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