As soon as metals and methods for processing them were discovered, men used them to fashion sturdy weapons both for defence and attack.
In Macedonia the abundance of raw materials and the advances in metalwork resulted in the making of metal weapons which stand out for their serviceability and the quality of their craftsmanship. Arrows, spears, swords, helmets, cuirasses, greaves, and shields were the usual equipment of the Macedonians. The weaponry of the ordinary warrior was of course not entirely made of metal, but will have had certain metal parts or elements.
The finds in the royal tombs of Vergina are unique not only in Macedonia but in the whole of Greece. These are the weapons of members of the royal family. They are made of precious metals and crafted with great sensitivity and skill. The most admirable among them are the gold-and-ivory shield, the iron cuirass with gold detail, the iron helmet and the gold incrustations of the 'gorytos' (quiver-and-bow case).
Iron sword
Veroia, 370-350 BC
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