Leather Cuirass

[Kai]

So you are arguing for a rather poorly painted chiton, Giannis? Well, I do think about that, too, but atm I am inclined to disagree.

The drapery on the lower part is clearly different and in general following the lines at the waist closely is helpful. I had some trouble explaining the horizontal lines when thinking of a single chiton and the behaviour of the drapery above and especially below them, as it seems the drapery below them is affected by them. Also note the fabric over the right leg, if it was one piece of cloth only, it’s upper part would also lie on it. The more reasonable explanation is a heavy overgarment resting on the chiton, thus moving the drapes.
Of course, it is not a metallic cuirass nor a shoulder-piece corselet, consequently I think of a spolas, though I am still not sure about it at all.



In general he is quite well armed, greaves, helmet, shield, spear and sword. The shield is of Boiotian type, which means a lot, since even if you disagree with the notion that this type of shield was attributed only to Homeric heroes in vase painting, it is anyway an extraordinary piece worth of rich aristocrats, who would not go into battle without cuirass, or, who would be depicted in heroic nudity. However, a spolas, if it is a spolas, is not what one would expect neither… This garment/cuirass and this shield are a strange composition.

The vase is dated 520-510 BC btw and I fully agree albeit tending towards the later date. This is a time long before the developments of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars with their increasing number of hoplites.