Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor - New Book

[Paul Bardunias]

I agree that if Greek linen armour was made from three layers of cloth then a twined weave is a reasonable assumption. If I were to make one from leather/hide then I'd use three layers as well. Which source says that three layers were used?

I don't have the 3-ply reference handy, but Alexander is said to have word 2-ply armor at Guagamela: “a breastplate of two-ply linen from the spoils taken at Issus” (Plut Alex. 32.5). 

I originally took this to indicate two layers quilted with batting in between, but now I wonder if it were two very thick twinned layers.  Of course this brings up the question of whether, as Paul always said, linen may have been more popular in the east and leather in Greece.