THE EARLY AGE OF GREECE VOL.I by W.Ridgeway 1901

'
324 THE HOMERIC AGE,
in douhtful jiiissij^c).
THE HOMERIC AGE. 328
11. xiii. 107 ; Mil. I'.rj /(/., I.,-. '
was actually a characteristic of the particular stage to which
Greaves. As no metal greaves have been found in the
the Acheans of the Homeric poems belonged, we shall have
Mj^cenean graves, nor do any warriors on the works of art
an irresistible
argument in support of our view that the
exhibit such protections, Reichel holds that the Achean warriors
Homeric shield called OmpJialuessa had really an umbo or
did not wear them. He would therefore eliminate the line in
central boss.
which the Acheans are termed ' bronze-greaved.' Certain
We saw that there is evidence for the use of blazons on
straps have been found in the tombs, from which he suggests
the shields of the Mycenean age (p. 312), but in Homer nowhere
do we find a trace of any such practice. For, though
material, and accordingly the ' well-greaved '
Acheans are to
that the Mycenean warriors wore leggings of some perishable
some find a case of the jMycenean usage in the shield of
be regarded by us as simply clad in gaiters. These (he
Achilles, the scenes on that are purely decorative ornament
supposes) were worn to protect the shins of the warrior not
closely resembling some well-known bronze Etruscan shields of
circular f(jrni.
from the enemy's weapons, but against the rim of his
shield, which knocked against him as he ran.
own long
'
Scholars have always
felt the contrast between the heroes
But the use so frequently of the epithet well-greaved '
described by Aeschylus in the Seven against Thebes and by
indicates that the greave was a special feature of the Achean
Euripidt'S in the Fhoeiiissae, distinguished by their blazons and
accoutrements, by which they stood in contrast to the wairiors
mottoes like mediaeval knights, and the Homeric chieftains
of the native race. Later on we shall find bronze greaves a
without a trace of heraldry.
characteristic of the early Iron Age of central Europe.
The Greek shield of classical times was the lineal descendant
if
Finally, the Homeric warrior had neither a bronze helmet
of the circular shield of the Acheans of Homer, but it bore
nor bronze greaves, nor a bronze corselet, nor yet a metal
no boss. This had probably disappeared when the practice
shield, how possibly could it be said that when he " fell with a
of placing blazons on the centre of the shield came into fashion
thud, his armour rang upon him" (dpri/3r]ae Se revx^e' iif avrw)^
once more. According to Herodotus ' the Carians were the
Leather certainly does not rattle or ring.
first to employ devices in this manner, and the Greeks borrowed
Now if we can find any district of Greece where in historical
times the people employed a form of armature closely
the practice from them. Now if we are right in our connection
of the (,'ariaus with the Pelasgian, that is, the Mycenean race,
resembling that uncovered in the graves and seen on the
it is pi-obable that they had never ceased to blazon devices on
monuments of the Mycenean period, and if further that region
their shields as ])ra('tised
in ( ireece in .Mycenean days, though
should prove to be an acknowledged seat of the oldest inhabitants
this custom had (lisai)peare