09-30-2005, 10:07 AM
The armor of Severius appears to be exactly what we have been discusing on the "new Marine gravestone thread": An extremely short molded cuirass with attached Pteurges. Compare this with the the Louvre Praetorian, officers on Trajan's column, etc. This for of armor may look odd to the modern eye, but to the ancient Romans obviously did not have the same inhibitions towards "military fashion" as some of us do.
Back to quilted subarmallis, it is well-nigh impossible to determine with any degree of certainty whether quilting or metallic scales or lames are being represented by a sculptor.
As for quilted padding being easier to wash, this does not appear to have been much of a consideration in the medieval times this kind of garment has been documented, as many descriptions say that the padding was no more than straw. The DRB writer was suggesting that the army of his time RETURN to the "old Roman" system of wearing the high quality felt subarmallis under mail because not only was it effective under armor, but it was an armor in its own right. We might assume then that the typical padding of his time was the straw or lint filled quilted linen known to be used in the Medieval era.
Back to quilted subarmallis, it is well-nigh impossible to determine with any degree of certainty whether quilting or metallic scales or lames are being represented by a sculptor.
As for quilted padding being easier to wash, this does not appear to have been much of a consideration in the medieval times this kind of garment has been documented, as many descriptions say that the padding was no more than straw. The DRB writer was suggesting that the army of his time RETURN to the "old Roman" system of wearing the high quality felt subarmallis under mail because not only was it effective under armor, but it was an armor in its own right. We might assume then that the typical padding of his time was the straw or lint filled quilted linen known to be used in the Medieval era.
