Late roman Lorica Musculata?

[Theodosius the Great]

The mosaic also features something else that was not present in earlier depictions of the musculata : shoulder cops. These can be seen more clearly in later works like this later Byzantine carving :



Something else is different about the 'Seasons' musculata : there's no Gorgon image on the breast. Perhaps the symbolism was too overtly Pagan for Christian sensibilities and was no longer employed (?).

I think the same goes with the Piazza San Marco of Venice statue of the "tetrarchs"??? The pillbox hats, the swords / scabbards, shoes, etc. are all late roman (not anachronistic classical inventions) and it seems that they are wearing perhaps musculatas too?

Ah yes, these statues? I agree, I think they can only show musculatas. It appears to me that they're all wearing typical Late Roman belts - the very wide types. They also seem to feature some kind of harness or sash around the mid sections - perhaps a later version of the Herculean knots that officers wear around their musculatas as seen on Trajan's Column and elsewhere (?). And of course they wear Late Roman shoes and carry spathas. Unfortunately, so much of the armor's upper sections are totally obscured by the right arm and shoulder pteruges.

Btw, if you buy the Osprey book "The Praetorian Guard" you'll find a color painting of Maxentius that's based on the same Tetriarchic statues. The artist interpreted the musculata to be made of bronze (which is what Aitor's is made of as I recall).

To tell you the truth I have been toying with an idea of musculata with my late roman impression

Great. I plan to use the one from my avatar for my LR impression as well. I know Aitor does owns one (or did) but not sure if he uses it for any LR impression.

Thanks Theo!

My pleasure. I'll keep searching for evidence and post whatever I find.

~Theo