The adarga was a hard
leather shield used originally by the
Moors of
Spain, its name deriving from the
Arabic "el daraqa". An important center of manufacture of the adarga was the city of
Fez in
Morocco,
Africa. The adarga was typically made from the hide of the
antelope and was extremely resistant to the blows of
sword,
lance and
arrow, but other kinds of leather were used as well. Originally the adarga was round, then heart shaped, then finally it took the form of a pair of overlapping
ellipses or ovals, measuring 69 - 80 cm. (27 - 32 inches) at its greatest length. Two or more layers of hide were glued and sewn together to make the adarga both rigid and elastic, and often decorated with incised and
gilt ornaments, Moorish inscriptions, and metal
appliques and borders.
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