08-12-2005, 10:34 AM
Quote:The only thing that still indicates gluing to me is the way the shoulder flaps stick straight up when unfastened, in the vase paintings. They have to be stiff and fairly springy. Obviously not all glues are going to do that! But if other stiffening treatments like soaking in brine will yield that result, the arguments for glue lose a lot of weight.
Khairete,
Matthew
The art seems to indicate that the material is stiff, throughout, and shows a smooth surface. the Greeks are good at giving indications of difering textures in their art and would, I think, be able to show the rather scruffy look layered but unglued linen has. Similarly, the armours end at the waist, rather than the hips, or thighs; a quilted or unglued garment would be flexible enough to allow bending without this. There would then be no need for pteryges.
The glue does fill the interstices in the weave, which may be another reason why my armour doesn't breathe.
I think I'll make the Linothorakes for the Roman Cavalry Sports group from padding sandwiched between layers of linen, in the style of modern back protectors, as Marcus Junkelmann seems to have done, and see what happens.