Pteruges

[tlclark]

Travis,

Did individual pteruges always overlap each other ? I know they do in the Prima statue but was that the norm, exception or a 50/50 thing ?

Maybe it depends on the time period :?:

Theo

Anything after the Antonine period is really iffy, but looking at pteruges on loricata from before that time, they look really dense. On most of the shoulder pteruges there are so many that I can't figure out how they were fit in, unless they overlapped in each layer. Each row seems to cover the pteruges next to it by an overlap of anywhere from 10-50%. Then the next rown would be the same.

It's quite common on shoulder pteruges to have each layer overlap the pteruges in the same layer. Haven't yet figured out if this is a design feature or an "artifact". By artifact I mean that the pteruges might be laid side by side parallel, and the armhole cinches them up so much they look like a fanfold. Or they might actually be sewn overlapping. It's very hard to tell.

On the kilts, it's much less dicey. Some show overlapping in the first row, but on most, the pteruges are laid in parallel rows with the overlapping created not in the first row, but by adjacent rows.

One thing that perplexes me is the character of the pteruges. I really can't get a handle on what they were made off. The pteruges look like they were run through a washing maching then rumpled into a ball to dry. They have lots of twists, wrinkles and odd features. Just can't figure it out. They look VERY stiff however. and with four or five overlapping layers, on average 40-60 per row, they must have held back more than just a glancing blow.

Whether they were cut from the same piece of material, or sewn together , I can't tell, since all of those details are hidden by the cuirass. but they are always edged, and many have cross-hatch patterns. I have a slide of this, and I am working on getting it up, I just happen to be in Egypt right now, so I am a little busy. I think the cross-hatch might represent a linen covering, so either a linen core with a laminate linen covering, or a linen laminate core with a leather covering are possible.

I need to look at some more in person. Wish I had done more study of the pteruges when I was in Rome!