Philip II Iron Cuirass

[Matt Lukes]

Does anyone happen to have the specific thickness of the iron plates of Philip II's iron linothorax? I've long found it quite a beatiful piece and over time I've been working up to making a reconstruction- I now have a complete poster board mock-up but my next big hurdle is what thickness of iron plate to forge. One good quality photograph I have sure seems to suggest it's relatively thick, judging by the edges- I know they're all folded over so what is visible is a double thickness, but it still seems substantial. One estimate I've made puts it at around 2mm, but that seems rather a lot. So I'm really hoping someone might know what it really is- even if it's just the current thickness of an edge, for example, I can account for the corrosion and folding to at least have something reasonable.

I'm also wondering about the 'invisible' hinges of the body plates- there's an old thread from '05 where there's some discussion, and I've seen a reconstruction that has one integral hinge at each plate's edge, and two on the shoulder 'flaps' (anyone know the proper term for these?), but I can only see the bronze ones at the back- none further along as some text suggests should be there. I loathe to guess, so if anyone has any help they can give there too, it'd be much appreciated. Everything else I have down- it's just the hinges and metal thickness I can't seem to really find...

Thanks (in Greek)

Matt