14. Spartan Shield from Pylos
This shield was discovered by American
excavators in the 1930's in a well in the Athenian agora. It
belonged originally either to one of the Spartan hoplites
defeated in the battle of Sphacteria or, perhaps, to the
captain Brasidas: In the first actions at Pylos and
Sphacteria, Brasidas reproached his men for hanging back out
of fear that they would wreck their ships attempting to
land. Making himself the example, he forced his steersman to
run his own ship aground, where he was beaten back by the
Athenians as he tried to get ashore. Swooning from his
wounds, he fell into the bow of his ship, and his shield
slipped off his arm and fell into the sea. Later, it washed
ashore and was used for the trophy which the Athenians set
up for the battle.
