KIDS WORKSHOP
BLOOD, SWEAT AND SPEARS
Are you brave enough to create your own mighty hoplite shield?
Hoplites were Ancient Greek warriors. They protected their city states in wars with other cities and with foreign enemies. They were also employed within cities to maintain order in society, almost like the police today!! City-states like Athens and Sparta had armies of the fiercest Hoplites.
In order to fight the Hoplites needed to protect themselves with armour. Hoplite armour weighed about 32 Kg in total! Can you imagine fighting a battle for hours and carrying so much weight?! The full suite of Hoplite armour was called the Hoplite Panoply. The Panoply included the bronze plated shield called a hoplon, chest armour called a cuirass, the bronze helmet with a crest of horsehair and greaves or leg guards. A Hoplon shield was big enough to protect a warrior from his chin to his knees.
In this craft filled workshop, students will make their own Hoplite shield. Students will learn about Hoplite armour and the important role the Hoplites played in Ancient Greek city states like Sparta where free citizens served as hoplites their entire lives. Donning their armour, students will engage in a historical re-enactment of the Hoplite’s famous Phalanx military formation.
Looking actively and closely at artefacts of war students explore:
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The development of ancient Greek warfare.
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The nature of Homeric and aristocratic warfare as opposed to hoplite values.
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Warfare as depicted in mythological contexts and historical events.
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War and trade at sea.
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Cost: $15 Per student
Minimum: 10 students