09-18-2007, 06:48 AM
As far as I know, no linen is found for the classical and hellenistic times which could be connected with armour. There are finds from earlier times but the connection with armour is doubtful but possible. There are also finds of leather pieces from 7th and 8th c. which were interpreted as parts of armour.
I heard of a find of quilted linen in a tomb of a Greek soldier in Rhodos from about 350 BC, but that seems not to be published (and so does not exist).
I asked the question in the same forum (the EB forum where I read about the find of the quilted linen; EB is a game but the team consists of/ has some connection to scholars and is sometimes very well informed) wether somebody knows written or archeological sources for classical and hellenistic linen armour. I got no answer except one: a hint to the burning of the old armours of Alexanders soldiers (I don't know the source, but I have read about it), after they received new armour. You can perhaps burn leather armour but you can much better burn linen armour.
I don't believe that the linen/leather armour of the Greeks contained metall plates, although the insertion of thin bronze plates into the shoulder flaps would perfectly explain the springiness appearance when loose. Why should they attach metall scales to the armour if a solid bronze plate was in? The scales were not only on the sides but frequently also on the lower or whole torso.
I heard of a find of quilted linen in a tomb of a Greek soldier in Rhodos from about 350 BC, but that seems not to be published (and so does not exist).
I asked the question in the same forum (the EB forum where I read about the find of the quilted linen; EB is a game but the team consists of/ has some connection to scholars and is sometimes very well informed) wether somebody knows written or archeological sources for classical and hellenistic linen armour. I got no answer except one: a hint to the burning of the old armours of Alexanders soldiers (I don't know the source, but I have read about it), after they received new armour. You can perhaps burn leather armour but you can much better burn linen armour.
I don't believe that the linen/leather armour of the Greeks contained metall plates, although the insertion of thin bronze plates into the shoulder flaps would perfectly explain the springiness appearance when loose. Why should they attach metall scales to the armour if a solid bronze plate was in? The scales were not only on the sides but frequently also on the lower or whole torso.
Wolfgang Zeiler
