![]() The normal Greek word for the kind of large, round, wooden shield that was usually carried by hoplites is actually ἀσπίς ( aspís), which, obviously, sounds nothing like the word ὁπλίτης.Īs J. It can even, in some contexts, be used to refer to a penis. It is often claimed that ὅπλον means “shield,” but it is actually an extremely vague term that literally just means “tool” or “piece of equipment.” This word can be used in Greek to refer to any kind of shield, armor, or weapon, but it can also refer to tools used for other things, like sailing a ship. The English word hoplite is derived from the Greek first-declension masculine noun ὁπλίτης ( hoplítēs), which is, in turn, derived from the Greek second-declension neuter noun ὅπλον ( hóplon). Unfortunately, despite being widely repeated, this claim is not true.ĪBOVE: Detail of the Chigi Vase, dated to the seventh century BC, depicting Greek hoplite warriors ![]() The name ‘hoplite’ comes from their shield which they called the ‘hoplon.’” “The main Greek soldier was the foot soldier called a ‘hoplite.’ Hoplites carried large shields and long spears. Likewise, an article on the website Ducksters titled “Ancient Greece: Soldiers and War” claims: They got their name because the shield that they carried was called a hoplon.” These warriors would carry long shields and spears. “The Greek soldier that was a foot soldier was called a hoplite. For instance, an article on the website History for Kids titled “Ancient Greek Warriors” claims: The assertion that Greek hoplites derive their name from their shields seems to be less common in works written for adults, but it is extremely widespread in works written for children. In reality, the word hoplon refers not only to the hoplite’s shield, but to all his equipment collectively. It is commonly stated that ancient Greek hoplites are named after the kind of large, round, wooden shield they carried, which was supposedly known as a hoplon.
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