Hittite Shields

[drwarbo]

Does anyone have information on painting Hittite shields? The Osprey book I have on ancient armis says that they were probably made of wicker or hide covered wood but doesn't mention if they had decorations.

thanks
Richard

[tcbrady]

Speaking from one who has painted Hittites in both 15mm and 25mm (WAB), I empathize with you in your predicament. The Osprey book only shows the shields on the Hittite figures from the inside. So when I painted my 15s I used a leather color, or painted the shields in a "cowhide" pattern. If you would like something more distinctive, however, you could use some of the Luwian hieroglyphics used by the Hittites, at least from the Empire period onward. Thier symbol for royalty is especially easy to do. It's an isosceles triangle with a line from the vertex to the base, and another line parallel to the base at right angles to the first line. I used it on my royal guard figures in 25mm. For more ideas, check out C.W. Ceram's book "The Secret of the Hittites". A very good read, as it describes how archeologists made their discoveries and decoded the Hittite language. Good luck! smile.gif

[ November 18, 2003, 03:24: Message edited by: tcbrady ]

[drwarbo]

Thanks for the information. I'll check it out.