Roman Leather Lamellae Scales from Karanis, Egypt

[Urselius]

There is also the question of usage. The Greeks used the word kataphraktos to denote anything notable for being "covered over", including types of ship. Therefore, Greco-Roman usage in a military context may not have been particularly precise. Like the use of the English word 'harness' which could denote armour, but also anything notable for the use of strapping.

Julian in an oration to Constantius II:

"...a cuirass made of small pieces protects the shoulders, back and breast. The head and face are covered by a metal mask which makes its wearer look like a glittering statue, for not even the thighs and legs and the very ends of the feet lack this armour. It is attached to the cuirass by fine chain-armour like a web, so that no part of the body is visible and uncovered,"

This sounds like the cuirass is not mail, but it is made of ''small pieces'' - scale or locked scale? My vote would be for locked scale or something else with a certain amount of rigidity, otherwise why would opponents of cataphracts be specially equipped with blunt trauma weapons?