PAVIS OVERVIEW
To provide protection for archers, who by virtue of their weapons were unable to carry a shield, it was normal practice from the reign of Ashurnasipal II (889 - 859 BC) onwards for archers to work in tandem with a shield bearer. Beginning in the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III (745 - 727 BC), an exceptionally large shield, known in modern military parlance as a Pavis, was employed for this purpose. The shields were taller than a man and curved at the top to protect the team from plunging fire. The shields were made from thick plaited reeds often covered with oiled skin. Surviving Assyrian records show that special areas in rivers were set aside to grow reeds specifically for use in the construction of shields.
The Pavis in use during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III was shaped like an inverted L. Similar shields used by Sargon II (722 - 705 BC). Sennacherib (706 - 681 BC) introduced a new type of Pavis somewhat taller and curved at the top, which continued in service with Assyrian forces until the fall of the empire.