Lorica hamata / segmentata

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Agreed. IMO segmentata was developed because it was quicker and cheaper than mail, or scale, or musculata. It was the munitions plate of the Roman era Those who had the means always wore mail. Plate was developed in the Middle Ages for the same reason (among others). It only became popular after the developement of trip hammer mills and the blast furnace which enabled plate to be produced more cheaply than mail - especially after the black death increased the cost of labour.

Dan,

Could you please point to the references on the inexpensive production of the steel plate in antiquity? I would like to see how the production of chain mail was more expensive than plate armor.

Thank you,