Depictions of Underarm Phalanxes

[rrgg]

Does that Roman have decoy eyes on his helmet? :wink:

There are many vase images showing this- armor penetrated with blood spewing forth. I would be suprised if it were fantasy.

Into the middle ages there seems to be quite a few of those, mailed knights being cut in two from helm to hip and sword thrusts going clean through breastplates (with an underarm grip nonetheless). I'm not sure you could dub armor effective or ineffective based on such depictions alone.