834 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1S97. 



Of tough Imll's bide; tlnough six it dri)V<! its "\v;iy 



With stuliliorn force, but in the wevcuth was stayed. 



Then Ajax hurled in turn his ])onderoiis spear, 



And struck the circle true of Hector's shield: 



Right through the glittering shield the stout spear passed, 



And through the well-wrought breastjdato drove its way, 



And underneath, the linen vest it tore; 



Jiut Hector, stooping, shunned the stroke of death. 



Witlidrawing then their weapons, each on each 

 They fell. * * * 



Then Hector fairly in the center struck 

 The stubborn shield; yet drove not through the spear; 

 For the stout brass the blunted jioint repelled. 

 But Ajax, with a ibrward bound, the shield 

 Of Hector pierced; right through the Aveapou passed. [Hiad, VII, 273. 



The spear shaft was made of ash, and was tough aud strong, thus: 



The son of Peleus threw 

 His straight-directed spear; his mark he missed. 

 But struck the lofty bank, where, deep infixed 

 To half its length, the Pelian ash remained. 

 Then from beside his thigh Achilles drew 

 His trenchant blade, aud, furious, onward rushed; 

 While from the clift' Asteropicus strove 

 In vain, with stalwart hand, to wrench the sjicar. 

 Three times he shook it with impetuous Jbrce, 

 Three times relaxed his grasp ; a fourth attempt 

 He made to bend and break the sturdy shaft. [Iliad, XXI, 192. 



Their spears lost or broken, they resorted to their swords: 



Then Peneleus aud Lycon, hand to hand, 

 Engaged iu combat: both had missed their aim. 

 And bootless hurled their weapons: then with swords 

 They met. First Lycorn ou the crested helm 

 Dealt a fierce blow; but in his hand tlie blade 

 Up to the hilt was shivered. Then the sword ' 



Of Peneleus * * * 

 * * * deei)ly in his throat the blade 

 Was plunged. [Iliad, XYI, 385. 



One of the tactical maneuvers of the Greek soldier was to thrust 

 the lance into and through the shield of his opi^onent, and while he 

 was disengaging it to attack him with the sword. 



The swords, shields, and armor are described by Homer, and, as 

 already seen, most of the combats were hand to hand. It is curious to 

 consider that until the invention of the sling and the bow and arrow 

 there was no projectile weapon used in warfare except the lance or 

 javelin. The knights of ancient times, as well as inedtTeival, fought in 

 armor, and whether on foot, on horse, or in a chariot, they i)ressed the 

 light hand to hand. It seems curious in these days of long-range guns 

 to think of great wars carried on as prize fighters would, and that 

 beyond arms' length meant out of danger. 



Archers could not carry shields, and so were driven to ask protection 



