Vergina Cuirass - Measurements

[PMBardunias]

Below is an image of the armor still in the ground. You can see the problem with the left shoulder and the general state of oxidation. The simple fact that the underlayer of the front is less well preserved than the other plates suggests some difference. Perhaps if it was a full sheet of iron, then covering it with "cloth or leather" trapped moisture and sped up oxidation, but it is still odd. One of you shared this with me a while back, I'll pass it on:

This is what Andronicus wrote (p.137): "This unique breastplate was hinged at the sides and on the shoulders; it was lined with cloth and leather. There were leather flaps on the lower edged covered with gold platelets. The gold decoration, on each side, is impressive. The shape of the cuirass worn by Alexander the Great in the famous mosaic from Pompii is absolutely identical." The cuirass is perhaps the most outstanding. It is the only cuirass of this type to have survived from Antiquity and the only iron cuirass that is older than the Hellenistic period; it is certainly the only example to have such brilliant gold decoration. As it is today the iron plates and the gold decoration have survived; at several points on the inside the remains of leather are clear and there are even traces of cloth. It is therefore certain that the inside was lined with these materials. A similar covering may have existed on the outer surfaces, although deep oxidation has eliminated all traces. Treatment in the laboratories of the National Archaeological Museum and gamma ray photography have enabled us to make certain both of its shape and of its technical details which are invisible below the oxidation.

As one might imagine, the cuirass is made up in sections, hinged together by means of small tubular projections on either side of the parts to be joined, through which passed a seperate pin. The body of the cuirass is made up of four sheets, one covering the chest, one on either side and one over the back; a fifth section which however consisted of only a metal border and which may have been covered with cloth and leather was found on the underside of the part which covered the chest. The shoulder pieces were each made up of two sections and thus a double joint, one on top of the shoulder to the sheet covering the back, and the second to the front plate. There was therefore a total of eight joints so that in practice the cuirass could open up flat; it is obvious how practical this was, both when the warrior had to gird himself for battle and then when he was in action since its many joints left the fighter free to move in any way he needed. A leather piece was attached to the lower edge which had left traces on the oxidized edges of the iron. One part of it, found on the floor, we managed to save. Lastly there were the flaps at the bottom, probably of leather sheathed in gold; fifty-eight oblong gold sheets, each decorated with three palmettes, were found.
As the reader may see in the photograph the edges of all the iron plates are decorated with a narrow strip of gold, itself decorated with a narrow strip of gold, itself decorated with a relief lesbian cymation. A wider band of gold sheeting with a double lesbian cymation, placed in opposite directions, passed across all four parts about one third of the way up from the lower edge. Gold lion heads provide the finishing touch to the glittery gold decoration; six on the front side and two on the left side. Gold rings which passed through the mouth of the lion heads were used to fasten the shoulder pieces and the frong to the side plates. Through them passed the leather thongs tightly tied as we may see from the similar type of cuirass worn by Alexander in the Naples mosaic. Lastly, there was a small square gold sheet with a relief depiction of Athena on the right, the unprotected side. I should add that the formation of the curve of the back is amongst the most admirable features of the whole piece, while the care taken to protect the nape of the neck by the elongation of the back piece is specially noteworthy. If this cuirass invites our wonder even in its present state, it is not difficut to imagine its splendor when the glitter of the gold was complimented by the brilliance of the silver sheen of the gleaming iron and the polished surface of the leather. We are now in a better position to understand why the Cypriots considered that the two iron cuirasses which they brought as a gift to Demetrios Poliorcetes would be something which this king, famous for the elegance and ostentation of his attire would appreciate.