Subarmalis

[Doc]

I already have a felt subarmalis that is excellent in cold weather. I tried it in hot weather and it was not so bad. However, I think that there were variations in the materials used that would better acclamete the solider to the enviornment. Possbily a lighter subarmalis that kept the individual cooler.

I know that felt is and was used in hot climates; i.e. in the desert.

However, it is also possible that a subarmalis be made from other material.

This is my question. What other material?

Linen, cotton (they had cotton in Egypt and the Romans could have used it), hemp?

Speaking of hemp, is this a known material that the Romans used?

My second question: how would it be assembled, like a gambeson, between the outer and inner layers stuffed with a textile.

I was thinking of making the exterior and interior out of linen and stuffing the inside with cotton and making it look like a quilt.

Any suggestions?

I would this second subarmalis for warmer and more humid enviornments like here in New York City where the temperature hits the high 90's and the humidity is also in the high 90%.

I already have linen tunics that could/would have been used in hotter climates

Thanks

[Tarbicus]

I'm sure there's mention in a primary text (and has been mentioned on RAT a number of times) of a subarmalis stuffed with straw.

[Hibernicus]

We're making one stuffed with pig hair and another with horse hair.

Part of the trick to comfort in HEAT is a large enough arm opening to let body heat escape!

In experiments we've found that we didn't need more than 1/2" on the torso and that a 1/4" seems adequate.

[Franklin]

I'm just finishing up a hemp subarmalis myself. As I understand it there are only one or two literary references to subarmili period, and those only mention linen or leather, or possibly a combination of both depending on how you interpret the text.

But there's plenty of evidence for hemp cloth being used in a maritime context, most obviously as sailcloth. The physical and chemical properties of hemp make it extremely resistant to mildew, a fact that the Romans were apparently well aware of. So it made sense to me that it might be ideal for a sweaty subarmalis.

We have almost no evidence as to how the subarmalis was constructed, so again I felt pretty free to use my imagination. I just made a double-layer vest and stitched one inch wide vertical channels across it. Into those channels I stuffed wad after wad after wad of raw wool. The end result is a really dense, stiff garment. But having the channels (which now look like stiff tubes) means that only a fraction of the garment actually touches your body. This leaves some empty channels for airflow. In theory anyway. I haven't actually field tested it yet to find out.

PS - I'm operating in Birmingham, Alabama. Heat and humidity in NYC ain't got nuthin' on this!

Something like this, only with much stiffer sections. More like the density/construction of cricket pads.


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[Doc]

I was in Alabama during the summer months and I agree that it can get unbearable.

That is why I brought up NY weather because I know that there are others in the US under similar if not worse conditions.

Tarbicus, I know of the straw stuffing. Thanks anyway.

[Crispvs]

As to the construction of the subarmlis, I have often felt that it might be instructive to look at the cavalry reliefs from Arlon. The cavalry shown have what is sometimes taken to be the pleated necks of their tunics sculpted emerging from the neck openings of their armour. I am inclined to feel however, that we may be looking at the necks of their subarmali, which in this case therefore, would be quilted vertically (at the neck at any rate), just like on a cricket pad.
Unfortunately, try as I might I cannot find an electronic image of any of these reliefs.

Crispvs

[Franklin]

Let me know if you do, Crispvs, I'd be interested in any evidence that might support my design.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

There were also the Iberian reliefs showing some type of padded garment protruding, these were posted in a previous discussion on this subject!

My sub has horizontal pleats, and you don't want them too stiff, mine are fairly stiff, but I wouldn't want them any stiffer to be honest.

[Franklin]

I think stiff is fine, as long as the garment is cut so that you can bend at the waist. But again, you've tried yours in the field, I haven't!

[Graham Sumner]

Hi
As Crispus points the Arlon relief appears to show something vertical around the neck. This is not unique as there are several other examples. You can also refer to Ross Cowan's article in Ancient Warfare issue 2, vol 1 on Pullo and Vorenus for a reconstruction based on one of these sources.

Graham.