"Carthaginian shield colours?" Topic

I have just begun work on my final Carthaginian unit for our huge demo game at a local show.
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The figures are Newline African veteran spearmen: made wearing captured Roman chain mail & carrying Roman shields.

As an elite unit, I want them to look special & I know that there is no hard data but what colour could their shields be?

I've decided to make them (unlike other Cartho units) quite uniform in colour. They will all wear dark red tunics for instance.

So, opinions welcome.

Best bet would be to sneak a peak at Little Big Men Carthaginian shield decals to get some ideas. The 'Tanit'? figure seems popular.

As Khusrau points out, the Tanit symbol shows up frequently in Carthaginian art. I have a book at home on the excavations at Carthage showing the Tanit symbol on coins and funeral stelae. It seems logical to have it protect your warriors. Other images like palm trees are seen on coins and another possible design might involve a bull/calf as the Phoenicians worshipped Baal. I think colors could range along any of the typical shades available for Roman or Greek shields : red, white, black, etc.

I stumbled upon these plastics with different shields today:
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For some reason I keep associating white with the Carthaginians. Somewhere in the deep recesses of what's left of my brain there's a little voice reciting something about a Carthaginian army looking like a "sea of white"; maybe it's a half-remembered quote. Anyway, assuming a somewhat uniform look, I'd go for white shields with various designs for some variety. Besides, it would sure look purty. Do keep us posted!

A lot of my Carthos have white shields, with Tanit on them. It is some years since I painted them and I can't recall why I did them like that. Duncan Heads suggestion maybe?

My Carthos figures the shields are white with LBMS shield patterns on them. Mike

There was a sacred band that had white shields. They got wiped out by hoplites in Sicily.

I believe Pyrrhus fought Carthaginians with white shields in Sicily. So that might be a good color for an elite unit.

Oldbob- yes you're right- I think it was the Tarentine Levy IIRC.

Plutarch's "Lives" says white somewhere. Good 30 years since I read it, however.

You guys are good.

Thanks for the suggestion: white it is.

I made a big start last night & might have the unit finished in a week or so.

If they are carrying Roman shields, shouldnt they have Roman patterns on them? Or are you assuming they have been repainted?

"Roman patterns" rather begs a question there…

I would go with white just to make them stand out, but red, blue, black and yellow would all be good options as well.

Not pink. :)

Phil

Try justin Taylor at Veni Vedi Vici for shield transfers.

Cartaginias are to Punic Era what the Austrians are to Napoleonics. White all the way with splash of colour for shields and bronze headgear, and chainmail steel colour on the veterans.

VR
James Mattes