Ancient Greek warfare equipment in light of vase paintings

In the 8th century BCE, there was a significant transformation in military formations among Greek city-states. As a consequence of these changes, the military formations was redefined with participation of lower and middle classes along with the nobles. In this time of change, the birth of hoplite class occurred and the weapon technology gained a great importance. The warfare, which was an integral part of the daily and social life of Ancient Greek society, left it traces in many areas of art and artisanship. The first shield and helmet representations appear in simple compositions on Attic vases in the Late Geometric Period. With the creation of the black-figure technique, equipment like helmet, armour and weapons started to be drawn in all varieties within certain subjects and imagery. The red-figure style offered new technique advantages to painters to perform more detailed and free. Stereotypical scenes on the black-figure style were replaced by new ones the diversity of which was wider from the point of details and subject in the red-figure. So, it has become easier to follow hallmarks and details of equipment and weapons of military classes chronologically. The goal of this study is to investigate the Ancient Greek military equipment and weapons and to classify them typologically by following the black and red-figured vases in chronological order.