But looking at other drawings like those of 8r (image next to this text) we can easily see that the sword does not halve the buckler at all. If we look at the drawings at folios 2r or 3r we could state the theory that the outline of the shield is halved by the sword. While the translation of the verse due the multiversum of meanings in the verb “cadere” is open to discussion, it is obvious that the “halpshilt” is connected to both “sword as well as the shield” be it the one having a “halpshilt” or the one opposing it. The shield called “scutum” is named after the first appearance of Halpshilt in the repeated rule “Dum ducitur halpschilt cade sub gladium quoque scutum”. The feature used in the I.33 cannot mean that the shield is exchanged by a smaller shield. The Features of Halpshilt in The I.33 halpshilt None of it uses it in regard of “half the outline”. The intended meaning is “short” or “small”. In fencing terminology in which the term is clear to us in meaning the feature “ half the size” is always used. Outside the world of fencing masters the latin term “semispata” for half-sword has the meaning of a short knife or dagger (see O’Sullivan for references). And we have the “Halbschwert” wich is shortened by putting the hand on the blade. We have the “halbe Stange” or “halbe Pique” which is a short or half version of a long weapon. If we look at weapon an fencing terms we find similar and different meanings of the word “halp”. The Features of Halpshilt in Martial Context Lang’s research the prize of a pelta was half of a scutum. So the buckler is the “half-shield” of the “parma”.Īccording to P. He fills in the “half the outline feature” for the term.Īnother source not known to me sees the buckler as the half sized “parma” (parmula) of the romans, that matches somehow the hoplite round shield but has a central handle and may feature a scutum. The pelta is no small shield and matches the mighty eye of the giant Polyphem. Both are strapped to the arm.So the pelta is the half-shield of the hoplon.Īlbrecht von Halberstadt picked the outline of the pelta that resembles the outline of an eye for his translation. The pelta has the outline of a halved circle, therefore it can be seen as the halved hoplite shield (“hoplon”). The translater picks one feature of the term/object and uses it for the translation. Those kind of translations are called “feature-translation”. The Features of Halpshilt in the Language We find the pelta translated in multiple old German (mostly old Bavarian) glosses. It was a common to translate the latin “pelta” from bible texts into German. The term Halbschild was more prominent in the 9th-10th century. The assumption that the greek pelta was known in any kind to Albrecht von Halberstadt is well covered by the meaning. Looking at the latin version of Ovid “Unum est in media lumen mihi fronte, sed instar ingentis clipei” we see that the eye is like a “mighty shield” and not small like a buckler. The visual anlogy with the pelta and an eye is striking. The pelta had been in use with spear and axe by (female) warriors well armored. The early researches had the idea that this was a light wicker shield covered with leather or cloth used by fast light armored troops on foot. The pelta is a shield that looks like a halved hoplite round shield. The secondary literature following Jacob Grimm names the greek pelta as the origin of the term “halpschilt” of Albrecht von Halberstadt. Further editions had been printed in Frankfurt (1581, 1609, 1631, 1641). The bookmaker Jörg Wickram of Colmar refreshed the verses and printed the them in Mainz (1545, 1551). The part with the term “halpshilt” is of the Oldenburg library and was already transcribed in the 19th century. The original manuscript is fragmented and great parts are lost. The naming of a half-shield in the medieval literature is to be found by the 13th century translation of Ovid by Albrecht von Halberstadt (13th book). This article will put a light on the “Halpshilt” and what it may have meant to the creators of the I.33. There are several approaches to getting closer to the meaning of the term. At the same time the term like many others is not explained at all. One of the most prominent terms in the book I.33 is the “halpshilt” or in modern German “Halbschild” translated as “half-shield”.
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