06-18-2012, 06:10 PM
Agrimensor,
It is not a matter of what something could be made of because for that matter you can use anything. The question is were they EVER made from leather. To date any greaves found be they Greek, Roman (any period), or even gladiatorial gear, were of some sort of metal.
Why use thick leather when thin metal which is lighter and can afford more protection. Besides, how long would leather last in wet or muddy conditions. Remember that the greaves being on the legs would take a substantial amount of abuse not necessarily battle related.
As far as comfort......if you make a liner from felt wrapped in linen and put it into the greave, it will be comfortable. You can also use layered linen as I did on my Manica. Besides, we cannot use our definition of comfort and apply it to the Romans. As reenactors, we cannot go to displays and tell people that the reason for the use of leather greaves is because they are comfortable when there is no evidence AFAIK to suggest leather was used for greaves.
Was leather armor used, I would think so for certain things and possibly by other peoples in the Romqn period. Did the Romans use it? In the interest of logic possibly but the current evidence suggests no.
It is not a matter of what something could be made of because for that matter you can use anything. The question is were they EVER made from leather. To date any greaves found be they Greek, Roman (any period), or even gladiatorial gear, were of some sort of metal.
Why use thick leather when thin metal which is lighter and can afford more protection. Besides, how long would leather last in wet or muddy conditions. Remember that the greaves being on the legs would take a substantial amount of abuse not necessarily battle related.
As far as comfort......if you make a liner from felt wrapped in linen and put it into the greave, it will be comfortable. You can also use layered linen as I did on my Manica. Besides, we cannot use our definition of comfort and apply it to the Romans. As reenactors, we cannot go to displays and tell people that the reason for the use of leather greaves is because they are comfortable when there is no evidence AFAIK to suggest leather was used for greaves.
Was leather armor used, I would think so for certain things and possibly by other peoples in the Romqn period. Did the Romans use it? In the interest of logic possibly but the current evidence suggests no.
"You have to laugh at life or else what are you going to laugh at?" (Joseph Rosen)
Paolo
Paolo
