MANICA Reconstruction

[Caballo]

Matt wrote "In the case of a MANICA, it's supplementary defense- optional, not at all strictly necessary, so only doing a reasonable job of protecting the most vulnerable areas is perfectly logical. I think it's very important to always bear in mind that armor is a last line of defense and is never intended to be hit- the main protection is the shield and simply moving around, so armor doesn't need to be all-protecting and too much armor is definitely a liability as it affects movement, which IS a primary defense"

Spot on, Matt- and I believe that the manica is there not to absorb a blow but to deflect- so especially useful against spears, sword- and even falxes.

Magnus wrote "given the gravity of the situation the manica was used in"-based on the finds, the manica was used in many areas of war- on the Rhine in 1st C (stele), in Dacia (Adamklissi plus finds), in northern Britannia (Carlisle) and in the Late Roman period (Ammianus, Notitia Dignitatum).

Plus anyone seeing a gladiator fight anywhere in the Empire would have seen one, and potentially asked his local armourer to knock him one up?

Cheers

Caballo