01-17-2004, 02:17 AM
Does anybody know of any decent work done on the linothorax, the reading i have done so far every body talks about how it looks and the time periods it was used in, but when it comes to the actual construction there appears to be alot of debate.<br>
Connolly says about 5mm thick which would relate to around 16 layers of linen, my experiments with this many layers and glue with what i think was the correct glue ( Hide ) has resulted in something that could damn near stop bullets but is about as flexible as concrete. The opinions stated by Nicholas Sekunda in his Greek Hoplite book 480-323 bc (Osprey, Oxford, 2000. p.11) That the "compisite cuirass" was made of metal plates that were covered with linen to prevent rusting. This i feel does not seem to be supported by the evidence, why would you need to cover the then with scale on the outside? Pausaniuas also speaks of greek linen armour as being better for hunting than for war as, " for they let the iron pass through, if the blow be a violent one. They aid hunters,how ever, for the teeth of lions and leopards break of in them"(description of greece book 1). Traulling on the internet only further confuses the issue as one website I came across says there is only one ancient reference to linen armour ( thats just so wrong I wont even start ) needless to say any firm evidence is hard to come across and this is starting to look like a very good topic for my thesis.<br>
<br>
Many thanks for any opinions<br>
<br>
Jason Hoffman<br>
<br>
p.s. The scales of Alexanders armour in the Pompeii Mosaic Bronze or Iron? (they look brown to me) <p></p><i></i>
Connolly says about 5mm thick which would relate to around 16 layers of linen, my experiments with this many layers and glue with what i think was the correct glue ( Hide ) has resulted in something that could damn near stop bullets but is about as flexible as concrete. The opinions stated by Nicholas Sekunda in his Greek Hoplite book 480-323 bc (Osprey, Oxford, 2000. p.11) That the "compisite cuirass" was made of metal plates that were covered with linen to prevent rusting. This i feel does not seem to be supported by the evidence, why would you need to cover the then with scale on the outside? Pausaniuas also speaks of greek linen armour as being better for hunting than for war as, " for they let the iron pass through, if the blow be a violent one. They aid hunters,how ever, for the teeth of lions and leopards break of in them"(description of greece book 1). Traulling on the internet only further confuses the issue as one website I came across says there is only one ancient reference to linen armour ( thats just so wrong I wont even start ) needless to say any firm evidence is hard to come across and this is starting to look like a very good topic for my thesis.<br>
<br>
Many thanks for any opinions<br>
<br>
Jason Hoffman<br>
<br>
p.s. The scales of Alexanders armour in the Pompeii Mosaic Bronze or Iron? (they look brown to me) <p></p><i></i>
