Behind the Shield

This is a reproduction of "Behind the Shield" of 2011.  The painting is inspired by the Ancient Greek warrior class known as the hoplite.  These citizen-soldiers arose in about 700 BCE when the emphasis in Greek warfare shifted away from aristocratic heroism to the more disciplined use of the phalanx by regular citizens of the city.  In many cities the development of hoplites (from the Greek hoplon, shield) led to the rise of democracy.  This image is a tribute to the sacrifices of the common citizen on behalf of his hearth and home. 

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Young Spartan, Caperton, 2009

A reproduction of "Young Spartan" of 2009, an image of how a young warrior of Lakedaemonia might have appeared preparing for a training session.  Young Spartans spent much of their lives in the field in grueling training in the agoge, the training discipline of ancient Sparta.

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