10-05-2009, 10:11 PM
Quote:Xenophon provides a list of body armour, including what I always took to be a sort of vambrace for the bridle arm, something easy and cheap to make. What he actually recommends is something that covers the whole arm including the elbow, something similar to a Roman manica enclosing the whole arm.It is difficult to determine whether Xenophon is recommending such a manica or speculating on the possible construction of one. There is nothing to suggest that Greek cavalrymen ever wore such arm protection. He also suggests modifying the right shoulder of a bronze cuirass to make it easier to throw a javelin but I can't think of any surviving examples that have such a modification.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books