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Shields were used in wars before the use of firearms to protect against arrows, spears, swords, and maces.
Old Turkish shields came in various shapes — round, rectangular, potbellied, or puffy — and were given different names depending on the materials used in their construction.

Iron shields were called “hacefe”, those made with leather stretched over reeds were known as “dereka” or “matrak”, and round steel shields were called “yeleb”. The puffier versions of these were referred to as “domed”.

Shield-making and the decorative craftsmanship applied to them held significant importance in Turkish handicrafts.

The motifs on the Epic Panel were inspired by a historical shield from the 18th-century Ottoman period, which was adorned with leaf and red carnation motifs. The original shield featured a domed hub decorated with floral designs, branches, and roses.

While the overall features of the shield reflect the style of the 18th century, the ornamentation on the gilded hub shows characteristics of 17th-century Ottoman palace jewelry. It is believed that the hub may have been added to the shield at a later time.

All the relief patterns on the Epic Panel were hand-decorated with 24-carat gold and colored using the enamel technique. Additionally, the panel was adorned with enamel-beaded decorations.