04-09-2002, 08:55 AM
I think interpreting the Roman "lorica plumata" as meaning an armor of "scales resembling feathers that were attached to the base of a finely made chain mail shirt" (which is the popular modern interpretation) is somewhat problematic.<br>
<br>
Referring to Parthian cataphracts, Justin says:<br>
<br>
"Munimentum ipsis equisque loricae plumatae sunt, quae utrumque toto corpore tegunt."<br>
<br>
Now, Parthia's great wealth seems to have been well distributed among the petty nobility, so I don't doubt the average cataphract could have afforded such an expensive armor, had he wanted to. However, I'm less willing to accept the idea that the heavy Parthian charger could have borne the weight of a full bard of such armor, AND his fully armored rider, and not collapsed after the first few paces.<br>
<br>
Simple logic, and the complete horse bards from Dura Europas, tend to suggest that Justin was using "loricae plumatae" to refer to any standard scale armor. Though I suppose it may also mean any scale armor where each scale has a central ribbed boss, or possibly any scale armor not done in the Roman fashion, i.e. any scale armor where each scale is not wired to it's neighbor.<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
Referring to Parthian cataphracts, Justin says:<br>
<br>
"Munimentum ipsis equisque loricae plumatae sunt, quae utrumque toto corpore tegunt."<br>
<br>
Now, Parthia's great wealth seems to have been well distributed among the petty nobility, so I don't doubt the average cataphract could have afforded such an expensive armor, had he wanted to. However, I'm less willing to accept the idea that the heavy Parthian charger could have borne the weight of a full bard of such armor, AND his fully armored rider, and not collapsed after the first few paces.<br>
<br>
Simple logic, and the complete horse bards from Dura Europas, tend to suggest that Justin was using "loricae plumatae" to refer to any standard scale armor. Though I suppose it may also mean any scale armor where each scale has a central ribbed boss, or possibly any scale armor not done in the Roman fashion, i.e. any scale armor where each scale is not wired to it's neighbor.<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>