Spolas? "Subarmalis"?

[Tarbicus]

The armour isn't susceptible to thrusting attacks from any angle unless there is a gap - such as the armpit.

But would be better at deflecting and carrying a blow away, especially a spear thrust.

[Dan Howard]

Good at deflecting upward-angled attacks. Attacks from above, angled downward, might catch in the overlap. But there is nowhere for them to go that may injure the wearer.

[Peter Raftos]

Just found this illustration by the Brygos painter of Athenian ephebes dressed in Thessalian gear - dated to 480 BC. What do you make of the chest covering Spolas? Subarmalis?Thoracomachus? mmm

[Peter Raftos]

Let's try that again...

[hoplite14gr]

Peter.
I find myself inclined to say spolas here.
But the lad depicted here wears many "outlandish" items.
His headgear is Thracian. His cloack is also a Thacian "zeira".
It is a possibility that his armor is also of Thracian origin.
The artist name also describes him as a Thracian.
Vrygoi were the guys who ambushed Mardonios during the Persian Wars.
Kind regards

[Dan Diffendale]

The artist name also describes him as a Thracian.
Vrygoi were the guys who ambushed Mardonios during the Persian Wars.

just for clarification, "Brygos Painter" is a modern name applied to the painter. We know that he painted vases made by a potter named Brygos, but we're not sure if they're the same person.

[Johnny Shumate]

Is this not a simple fleece vest/coat..? A sheepskin vest would give you some protection and keep you warm...
Johnny

[Anonymous]

We have discussed elsewhere whether these pictures represent a sheepskin vest on top of a chiton or simply a very ruffled chiton. Some of the images were very ambiguous, but the one posted by Peter, above, seems indisputable - it's a sheepskin waistcoat.

[hoplite14gr]

See thes two very heavily armed peltasts:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hoplite14 ... pg&.src=ph
What do you think? (Well, except the fact that tavli (backgamon) is ancient!).

Kind regards

[Jason Hoffman]

Hi Guys, Sorry but there has to be one person that disagrees, I think that they are just ruffled chitons. The type of depiction is also seen on dresses. IMO i think the top one may be a painters error.

Just my two cents/obols worth

Jason