Quote Originally Posted by theoldbelgian View Post
I am only confused with the A on the makedons shield or was sparta not the only ones who used it?


[searches for a virgin to slaughter on the holy altar of EB]
As MAA already explained, the sign on Spartan shield is actually L - for Lakedaimon (i.e. Sparta).

All sorts of abbreviations were used throughout the hellenic world and usually refered to deities. Therefore A, could stand Athena, Aftrodita or Artemis, depending on which one was the most favourite deity of the owner.
To disambiguate between various possible interpretations other forms were used regularly, like ATHA for Athena...