Spara
Spara, a wickerwork shield measuring approximately 150 × 65 cm; the soldiers who carried it in the Persian army were known as sparabara. When arranged into a shield wall — or used as a pavise — the spara provided infantrymen, standing in close formation, with effective cover against arrows, sling stones, and other projectiles. Armed with a thrusting spear, a bow, and a sword, the Persian infantryman could keep both hands free for archery while remaining protected behind his spara. Even advancing offensively was feasible with a lightweight pavise of this type, though it was somewhat slower than moving with conventional shields. Against charging spearmen or phalangites, however, the light wicker shield offered no significant protection; the Persian infantry therefore had to rely on archery to stop an enemy formation or at least throw it into disorder before the two sides clashed in melee.
Available Miniatures
- Persian Infantry, 5th to 4th Century BC, 1:72 Zvezda 8006
- Xerxes’ Army, 1:72 Mars 72010
The Persian spara shield can easily be scratchbuilt from printed cardboard, thin wooden slats, plastic, or sheet metal. A staple — trimmed and bent to the appropriate shape — works well as a stand for this lightweight pavise. In wargames, we use a row of four spara mounted side-by-side on a narrow base, which can then be placed in front of an infantry stand whenever needed.