What are those upside down V signs on Spartan shields?

Answer 1

nothing:/

Answer 2

The upside-down V symbol on Spartan shields is known as the lambda, which is the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet. It represents the sound "L" in the Greek language. The lambda was used as a symbol of the city-state of Sparta and its military prowess. It is often associated with the legendary Battle of Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans made a heroic stand against the Persian army.

Answer 3

Oh, dude, those upside-down V signs on Spartan shields are actually called lambda symbols. They represent the letter "L" in the Greek alphabet, which stands for "Lacedaemon," the ancient name for the Spartan city-state. So, basically, it's like their version of putting their name on their shield. Cool, right?

Answer 4

Ah, those upside-down V signs on Spartan shields? Those are called lambda symbols, representing the letter "L" in the Greek alphabet, standing for "Lacedaemon," the ancient name for the city of Sparta. It's like a fancy way for Spartans to say, "Hey, we're from Sparta, don't mess with us."

Answer 5

Ah, those are lambda symbols, my friend! They represent the letter "L" in the Greek alphabet, standing for "Lacedaemon," which is the region where the Spartans lived. It's like a signature, showing pride in their homeland and identity. Just like how we sign our names on a painting, they proudly display their lambda on their shields.

Answer 6

That inverted V symbol is the Greek letter L, being the first letter of the name of the Spartan territory of Lacedaemonia.

Early Greek shields had various patterns on them, but then began to adopt the letter of their city to avoid killing their own by mistake in battle. There is a story of an action in Corinth in the early 4th Century in which some passing Spartans who were unarmed picked up some shields of warriors from Sikyon, which had an S on them, to oppose a sally by Corinthians. The latter, being Dorians like the Spartans, thinking them mere 'only Achaeans', ran right through them, rather than thinking twice if they had known who they were picking on.