Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor - New Book

[Dan Howard]

"these consisted of a helmet of raw ox-hide, a three-ply linen breastplate, a bronze shield, long pike, short spear, high boots, and sword." - Dio LXXXVIII.7.1-2 ( The first re-enactors? LOL!)."

Thanks, you found my 3-ply reference. A bit more shaky than the 2-ply.  Given the evidence from just the greave though, that is 1.5 cm of linen armor.

It gives us two independent sources suggesting that linen armour was made of a few layers of a thick material rather than a dozen or more layers of regular cloth. We also have the Dura greave liner telling us that twined linen was used in a martial context. Combining these two data points gives us a probable method of construction. There seems to be more evidence for this proposed reconstruction during the time in question than any other alternative suggestion.