Athyreos orthureos (Ancient Greek:θυρεός) was a large ovalshield which was commonly used inHellenistic armies from the 3rd century BC onwards. It was adopted from theGalatians, probably first by theIllyrians, then by theThracians before becoming common inancient Greece. Troops who carried it were known asthyreophoroi. It was made of wood covered with leather and had a spined boss. It was carried using a central handgrip. Some variants of the shield were nearly rectangular: the namethyreos derives from the wordthyra (θύρα), "door", reflecting its oblong shape.[1]