10-09-2014, 09:29 AM
Hi Dan
The reason why is relevant is weight.
All Greek a Roman Musculata armours has hinges, also later (XIV-XVI) armour, because is a solid way to close them, and to avoid shaking.
Even if the weight is lower than I said (I give the weight of a total greek panoplia, I´m afraid), will be close to 4-7 kg depending on thickness reinforcements and decorations. Mount on a horse and see what happens after 20 minutes trotting if it is no properly subjected.
Alexander, you pointed that this were just parade items...Made of what?
Obviously a "propaganda" Item like Prima Porta (and copies shown along the empire) for Romans, who were many of them ex legionaries, would will not be something that lacks realism and combat spirit. Obviously will not show a "fake" cuirass that makes the emperor subject to jokes or mocking.
The cuirass was not a decorative item. Roman generals were killed by the own men more often, than by the enemy.
We do have textual evidence in Suetonius "Linen Lorica" weared by generals.
We do have evidence of a diferent closing mechanism, that will not match a traditional cuirass.
We have references of musculata in white, same color than linen cuirasses, which may be not a coincidence.
I think we have all this in mind to considere linen musculatas as a possible evolution of linen greek cuirasses.
The reason why is relevant is weight.
All Greek a Roman Musculata armours has hinges, also later (XIV-XVI) armour, because is a solid way to close them, and to avoid shaking.
Even if the weight is lower than I said (I give the weight of a total greek panoplia, I´m afraid), will be close to 4-7 kg depending on thickness reinforcements and decorations. Mount on a horse and see what happens after 20 minutes trotting if it is no properly subjected.
Alexander, you pointed that this were just parade items...Made of what?
Obviously a "propaganda" Item like Prima Porta (and copies shown along the empire) for Romans, who were many of them ex legionaries, would will not be something that lacks realism and combat spirit. Obviously will not show a "fake" cuirass that makes the emperor subject to jokes or mocking.
The cuirass was not a decorative item. Roman generals were killed by the own men more often, than by the enemy.
We do have textual evidence in Suetonius "Linen Lorica" weared by generals.
We do have evidence of a diferent closing mechanism, that will not match a traditional cuirass.
We have references of musculata in white, same color than linen cuirasses, which may be not a coincidence.
I think we have all this in mind to considere linen musculatas as a possible evolution of linen greek cuirasses.
