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EntityQ131559· pop 97· linked from 760 articles

shield

Also known as 🛡

thumb |Zulu people|Zulu chief Goza and two of his councillors in war-dress, all with [[Nguni shields, . The size of the shield on the chief's left arm denotes his status, and the white colour that he is a married man.]] thumb|Wall painting depicting a Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean Greek "figure eight", 15th century BC, [[National Archaeological Museum, Athens]]

AI overview

A shield is a protective barrier carried by a person, historically made in various shapes and sizes, that was used in combat to defend against weapons and attacks. Beyond its practical function in warfare, shields often conveyed important social information, such as a person's status or marital condition, making them significant cultural objects in many societies.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: Thorsberg Shields.jpg

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Unicode character: 🛡
Commons category: Shields

Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

~19 min read

Article

16 sections

Contents

Prehistory
History
Ancient
Post-classical
Shields of Sub-Saharan Africa
Shields of Southeast Asia
Modern
Law enforcement shields
Gallery
Types of shields
Components
Tactics
Heraldry
References
Bibliography
External links

A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry like spears or long ranged projectiles such as arrows. They function as means of active blocks, as well as to provide passive protection by closing one or more lines of engagement during combat.