Shield (Disambiguation)

Image by British Museum

Wandsworth Shield Boss

A 4th - 2nd Century BCE copper alloy shield boss from Wandsworth, England. This shield boss is approximately 32.8 centimeters (12.9 inches) in diameter, and was once fixed to the front of a wooden shield by six rivets. The shield boss is...

Image by Mark Cartwright

Mycenaean Shield Fresco

A fragment from a fresco from the acropolis of Mycenae depicting the typical figure-of-eight shield design. 15th century BCE. (National Archaeological Museum, Athens)

Image by Mark Cartwright

Greek Bronze Shield

Bronze shield from Olympia, 6th century BCE. Olympia Archaeological Museum.

Image by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin

Anglo-Saxon Shield fittings

These fittings were originally attached to the front of a circular wooden shield. The iron boss was in the center with the decorative circular mounts arranged in 2 groups around it. The gilded silver mounts, shaped like an aquatic creature...

Image by Unknown Artist

Tunnelling Shield

An illustration of the tunnelling shield designed by Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849). The shield was used during the construction of the Thames Tunnel, completed in 1843. The shield allowed workers to excavate but be protected from cave-ins...

Image by British Museum

Battersea Shield

The "Battersea Shield" is a bronze Celtic shield facing from the 4th - 1st Century BCE. The shield facing is decorated with red enamel in the La Tene style, and was probably made in Britain. From the British Museum in London.

Image by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin

Partially Reconstructed Shield from Sutton Hoo

This is the most elaborate shield to survive from Anglo-Saxon England. The metal rim and gilded copper alloy, gold and garnet fittings are unusual. The central iron boss protected the user's hand, while mounts depicting a bird of prey and...

Image by Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

Minoan Bronze Shield

Bronze shield, Crete, Geometric period, 8th-7th century BCE. Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete. The bronze tympanon/shield found in the Idaean Cave is a votive offering from around the 8th century BCE. It is decorated with a bas-relief...

Image by Jade Koekoe

Aboriginal Australian Alkwerte - Shield

Collected by Museum Victoria in the 1950's from the Arrente clan/language group of Alice Springs, Northern Territory. An Alkwerte was used for a range of purposes: as a shield, to help create fire and in ceremonial performances. These shields...