04-07-2013, 01:43 PM
Daryush wrote: (about an assumed tailored cut of the suits of armour under discussion)
it seems like a lot of hassle for not that much benefit.
Every time I see a reenactment group of middle 1st century legionaries with nicely detailed, uniform equipment, I am terribly disappointed as soon as their centurion comes into sight. Why? Not because of the usual unkempt pteruges in brown leather sticking out in al directions, though they add to the general impression of failure, but because he always looks like a sack of potatoes. And that is because I never see a decently tailored centurion suit of armour, they are always simple tubes bulging over his belt, or worse hanging straight down.
The classical Greek linothorax was straight, and it looked good because it was short, only just protecting the genitals, and stiff and usually not belted. These later, hellenising oriental suits were much longer, almost knee-lenght, and worn with a belt (not a sash), so if you did not tailor it and make it flexible the wearer was hampered in his movements and the armour looked ill-fitting.
it seems like a lot of hassle for not that much benefit.
Every time I see a reenactment group of middle 1st century legionaries with nicely detailed, uniform equipment, I am terribly disappointed as soon as their centurion comes into sight. Why? Not because of the usual unkempt pteruges in brown leather sticking out in al directions, though they add to the general impression of failure, but because he always looks like a sack of potatoes. And that is because I never see a decently tailored centurion suit of armour, they are always simple tubes bulging over his belt, or worse hanging straight down.
The classical Greek linothorax was straight, and it looked good because it was short, only just protecting the genitals, and stiff and usually not belted. These later, hellenising oriental suits were much longer, almost knee-lenght, and worn with a belt (not a sash), so if you did not tailor it and make it flexible the wearer was hampered in his movements and the armour looked ill-fitting.
