Leiden - disc chape for gladius?

[drsrob]

Salve Rob,

When you said…

The examples referred to by you look extremely stylized and unrealistic.

Were you referring to the sculpture of emperors holding the Parazonium short sword? [...]

I was specifically referring to the images linked to by Tarbicus.

Rob, are you over-complicating something that is far simpler?

Am I? I think that these Greek style sword are fairly definite proof that these statues do not depict contemporary, but traditional Hellenistic armour. Over time details of contemporary equipment creep in, but one the whole they are not representations of actually used armour.

Cf. in the 17th and early 18th Century generals were usually painted in full armour, which had not been used in actual combat from the 30 Years War. In the course of time some details of contemporary cuirasses were included, such as a lining that forms an inch wide - usually scarlet - edge along the plates.