Lamellar and cataphract armour

[Theodosius the Great]

Thank you both, Vortigern et Paulus.

I accept the dating based on the context of the webpage.

So, the Byzantines were, apparently, still in the habit of classicizing their artwork. (Or does anyone think the armor is contemporary ?) The column, IMO, is still useful as a resource since I see some consistency with how lamellar cuirasses were depicted in late Roman times.

Please let me know if you disagree.

~Theo

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

I think lamellar armor very popular in Ve and VIe century AD maybe most in Orient Empire? byzantines sources show a lot of saints in lamellar armor...

[Theodosius the Great]

I think lamellar armor very popular in Ve and VIe century AD maybe most in Orient Empire? byzantines sources show a lot of saints in lamellar armor...

Thank you for input, Damianus . Now I'd like to find out which type of plates may have been used in the 5th and 6fh centuries to construct the armor.

~Theo

[Theodosius the Great]

I own a copy of a 19th century Roman Numismatic chart that shows exquisitely drawn coins from Pompey the Great down to Romulus Augustulus. And I've found that six of them may depict emperors wearing lamellar armor. Some of them may be fancy robes studded with jewels but others seem to show a plated cuirass. The earliest one I've seen dates to the early 4th century.

You can view all six of them :

Click here

here

here

here

here

and here.

~Theo

[Arahne]

Viminacium, VI century
ref. Starinar LV 2005, I. Bugarski - A contribution to the study of lamellar armours
I forgot to say there are more than 500 lamelae found, and as far as i know - two armours. In fact the find is from smithy workshop as the author says.

[Theodosius the Great]

Wow, actual findings from the VI century ! This is the first time I've seen or heard of any plates dating to the period that are also Roman. But wasn't Viminacium sacked by Attila in the mid V century ?

Thank you for posting these photos, Arahne. Laudes to you

I wonder how the rows connect since there only appears to be a single hole on each plate to attach to the upper plates. I guess you'd need to wire them horizontally. The photo below shows where the holes overlap (marked in red dots).

[Theodosius the Great]

BTW, does anyone know what Deepeeka's lamellar plate is based on ?

I refer to letter "B" in the photo :



~Theo

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

The XIX century drawn are fine. I have pictures of Original Constantine coin. I don't believe that lamellar armor, idem to Decence but about the Dalmatius coin the depiction is clear!

Thank for this illustartions.

[Theodosius the Great]

Avete Omnes,

Do we know the size range of lamellar plates the Romans (up to the sixth century A.D.) would have worn ?

I'm thinking of making my own lamellar cuirass out of blank dog tags. Two sizes are available :

2.3 cm x 4.5 cm

3 cm x 5.9 cm

Do either of these seem far too large to use ?

I've looked for sizes in Roman Miltary Equipment but only found some references. So, I'd like to know the full range of acceptable sizes I can use to construct my own shirt.

Thanks in advance for any help.

~Theo

[Dan Howard]

BTW, does anyone know what Deepeeka's lamellar plate is based on ?

I refer to letter "B" in the photo

The closest I can find is a plate found in Dchitigarinsk, Siberia, but that only has one hole on the bottom, not two. I don't think it has any historical relevance at all.

[KyruHUN]

Ave!

After reading the comments, I hope I can finally find the answer to my question.
Note: I lack a load of knowledge of lamellar armor types, so I might write nonsenses. Bear with it.

I'd like to construct a leather laced, lamellar lorica sqamata. A type that was used both in the Roman period (for gladiator fights), and in the middle ages (as many centuries as possible). I was told that a kind of birka lamellar (number five) was that type, but I'm concerned.

I would like to know even the slightest crumb of information about that armor.

[garrelt]

Lamellar laced with rawhide .
Picture 1 total view
Picture 2 front view
Picture 3 rear view

[garrelt]

Lamellar with rings

[garrelt]

f is front
r is rear

The rust is not from the rain.

[Dan Howard]

Photos don't help without the context. What are we looking at? Extant museum samples? Modern reconstructions? What time period? Which culture?