Padded Armour

[Anonymous]

Greetings all! This is my first post on this forum.

I haven't got this book so I can't provide the image mentioned, although I have seen it. I agree that it likely isn't lorica squamata.

Curiously, there is an image of a Roman legionary wearing a type of padded armour (although it seems to differ in design a little from the garment shown in the relief from Estepa) in one of the plates of Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161-284, Osprey Warrior Series by Ross Cowan (illustrated by the famous Angus McBride).

I've included the relevant part of the plate below (I assume that is ok?).



- Legionaries mid-2nd century AD, page 33

The relevant part of the caption for the plate reads:

This plate is based on a relief of three legionaries carved on a sandstone slab from Croy Hill on the Antonine Wall in Scotland.

All three legionaries carry heavy flat-tanged pila and their cylindrical shields (scuta) are decorated with rosettes and Capricorn emblems derived from distance slabs set up on the Antonine Walls by legio II Augusta to commemorate completed sectors of rampart, c.1942. The men wear heavy hooded paenula cloaks, secured by buttons at the chest ...

The legionary to the left wears a padded garment (thoracomachus or subarmilis), probably of linen stuffed with wool, and normally worn under mail or other armour, but was probably considered adequate protection when maneuverability was necessary.

- Colour plate commentary, page 59

I hope that adds a little to the discussion.

Best Regards