Single Combat during the Trojan War

[Dan Howard]

[What about the theme of Achillis armour which was so distinctive, his cousin wore it to inspire the troops to fight when Achillis bowed out?
I realise probably not enough detail to make a reconstruction, but there was reference enough to know it existed, surely?.

There is very little. It is made of bronze. IIRC his greaves are tin. There is a passage saying that he moved his arms around when first putting it on to see that it fit properly. Connolly reckons that this might be an indication of some sort of shoulder protection. That is about it.

His helmet has more detail (from Lattimore).
Massive and fitting close to his temples, lovely and intricate work, and laid a gold top-ridge along it [18.610-11] … and with the glittering helm with the four horns he nodded; the lovely golden fringes were shaken about it which Hephaistos had driven close along the horn of the helmet. [22.314-16]

Elsewhere it says that it is “hollow-eyed”, which implies wide cheek guards (confirmed on lines 16.106; 17.294; 20.397) and some sort of nasal protruding down over the nose, leaving only the eyes and front of the face exposed.