leather cuirass

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

Hmmm, interesting discusion... So I also try to add my personal oppinion.

Yes, no doubt that the other cultures and nations used hardened leather armor but I am really not sure, that Romans did. AS I can remember, we have no evidences about leather segmentata or leather musculata using by the Romans. Yes the counterargument may be, that a leather could not survived to our times but: We have a lot of finds (caligae, baldrics etc.). Yes, the leather segmentata is lighter than the iron one and a leather is not corrosible but.. The level of protection against weapons: I have no experiences from battles but I am quite sure, that iron is harder than hardened leather and also firmer than leather one. Yes, a hardened leather is firm (my friends have said that it is really dificult to cut through) but... an iron armor is more effectively - I am sure about it.

And I am also quite sure that also Romans have known it. They have been able to produced iron loricas and we have a lot of evidences about it. But we have no evidences about leather armoring by the Romans.

So I am afraid, that leather loricas using by the reenactors is based on the myth. I do not want to insult anybody but the true is that If I had seen this loricas, it has been in the Italy...

valete and regards