03-18-2013, 10:08 PM
Hello Mike
By Robinson's comment I presume you mean in his book 'The Armour of Imperial Rome', because in his book 'Oriental Armour' he mentions the use of leather armour several times, It seems like he was saying it was OK for Eastern and Oriental armies to use leather armour but not the Western Roman Army. In one case leather was fine in the other it was useless!
The argument also ignores the leather armour that was used by the Romans such as the Lamellar fragment and the horse armour. As you are also well aware there can be several examples which can be cited from other eras of leather defences. I am wary of using the term 'armour' as it upsets Dan. leather protection need not be too thick and it can be waterproofed and it is not always cheap.
I think the real point is whether the Romans had leather lorica segmentata or leather musculata and on that point I am equally doubtful.
Graham.
By Robinson's comment I presume you mean in his book 'The Armour of Imperial Rome', because in his book 'Oriental Armour' he mentions the use of leather armour several times, It seems like he was saying it was OK for Eastern and Oriental armies to use leather armour but not the Western Roman Army. In one case leather was fine in the other it was useless!
The argument also ignores the leather armour that was used by the Romans such as the Lamellar fragment and the horse armour. As you are also well aware there can be several examples which can be cited from other eras of leather defences. I am wary of using the term 'armour' as it upsets Dan. leather protection need not be too thick and it can be waterproofed and it is not always cheap.
I think the real point is whether the Romans had leather lorica segmentata or leather musculata and on that point I am equally doubtful.
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
