The shield is one of the oldest pieces of armor in history. The earliest shields were made from hide or wood and were used as early as 2500 B.C. Shields were originally used for individual defense during hand-to-hand combat, but as armies developed, soldiers carried matching shields to link together for fighting in formations. The Armory proudly offers both functional shields and decorative shields. To view the shields that are available, click on the photos below:
