+- RomanArmyTalk (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat)
+-- Forum: Research Arena (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Roman Military History & Archaeology (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=8)
+--- Thread: brestplate (/showthread.php?tid=1291)
brestplate - Anonymous - 06-19-2004
Hi all, can someone tell me what the Latin name is of the Roman breastplate, that sealed off the hole breast with two plates of iron or bronze...(Hellenistic type)?? <p></p><i></i>
breasplate - Anonymous - 06-20-2004
I'm not sure exactly what you're talking about; could you describe it a little more?<br>
<br>
<br>
Aaron <p></p><i></i>
Re: breasplate - Anonymous - 06-20-2004
Ave!<br>
<br>
If you're talking about the cuirasses worn by statues of emperors and such, with muscles and other decoration embossed into it, it is generally referres to simply as a "muscle-cuirass", or to latinize it perhaps, a 'Musculata'.<br>
the actual name for such an item from roman times is unknown.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Gaius Marius Aquilus <p></p><i></i>
Re: breasplate - Anonymous - 06-21-2004
The cuirass was generally called a lorica.<br>
Lorica hamata = mail, lorica squamata = scales, lorica plumata = uncertain. Maybe a composite mail/scales.<br>
Lorica segmentata is not roman, it's a modern name. The true name of the segmentata is unknown... Lorica gallica?<br>
Just a joke..<br>
In the case of the greek muscled cuirass it may have retained its greek name: thorax.<br>
The imperial busts and statues could be of two types: togatus = with civilian toga, or loricatus = with an armour. <p></p><i></i>
Re: breasplate - Anonymous - 06-21-2004
^Dude yo have way to much time on your hands. <p></p><i></i>
Lorica plumata - Gregg - 06-21-2004
Justin refers to the armor the Parthians use to cover their horses as "loricae plumatae," which was almost certainly standard scale armor. "Lorica plumata" has become a convenient label for moderns to use when describing that remarkable mail/scale hybrid the Romans sometimes used, but I don't think the Romans used that label to describe it themselves.<br>
<br>
Gregg <p></p><i></i>
Re: Lorica plumata - Anonymous - 06-22-2004
I'm inclined to think that the word "plumata" was reserved for scale armour in which the scales were fashioned with medial ridges for additional strength. A full cuirass of these scales is very attractive and gives the distinctive appearance of feathers - hence the term "plumata" (pluma = feather). <p></p><i></i>
Lorica Plumata - ambrosius - 06-26-2004
Have to say I agree with Daniel. I was under<br>
the same impression. Plumata does refer to the<br>
medial ridges on the scales, and helps distinguish<br>
them from the regular 'plain' scales.<br>
<br>
Good point about the ridge adding rigidity to the<br>
scale, to improve its protective quality; as well<br>
as the visual effect of the 'feathered' scales.<br>
<br>
For me, Plumata is the most attractive lorica,<br>
and a neat compromise between the sheer<br>
protectiveness of Segmentata and the flexibility<br>
of Hamata (especially for cavalry).<br>
<br>
Ambrosius <p></p><i></i>
Re: brestplate - Anonymous - 06-26-2004
Hi, I didn't read all the discussion, but about the brestplate the latin names I know for it are "pectorale" or "spongia". <p></p><i></i>
Armor terms - Matthew Amt - 06-26-2004
Ave!<br>
<br>
Definitely read the whole discussion, Charo, since this is relevant to your post on help with a research project.<br>
<br>
It sounds like you've run across some terms from Polybius or another early writer. "Pectorale" is the "heart plate", a round or square breastplate and backplate about 9 inches across, commonly worn by legionaries (and many of Rome's Italian enemies) from about the 5th century BC to the end of the 2nd. I think "spongia" is a reference to a mailshirt, but it might be a case in which we're not even sure if the writer himself was certain of what he was talking about! The more commonly-known word for mail is lorica hamata.<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
<br>
Matthew/Quintus <p></p><i></i>
Spongia/Spongea - (as a sidearm) - ambrosius - 06-27-2004
Sometimes, you see spongia translated as Samnite<br>
'triple-disc' armour (as used by gladiators).<br>
<br>
There is also, though, the 'sponge-on-a-stick'.<br>
The auxiliaries in the Leg II Aug swear by this as a<br>
sidearm, tucked into the back of the belt. After the<br>
discharge of the pila, should the gladius be broken<br>
or dropped, they recommend withdrawing their<br>
spongea and flicking it at the enemy. Apparently it<br>
has a devastating effect at short range.<br>
<br>
Ambrosius<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>