Corbridge A Breastplates - to cross or not cross diagonally?

[Tarbicus]

But the question is, "Did the Geniuses design the plates to cross, or was this just another innovation of those damn Monkeys?"

The monkeys probably, as they're the ones who cut and assembled the iron plate into a cuirass? Possibly also the soldiers themselves, based on practical experience in combat and wearing of? We just can't say for sure.

The thing is that there are all sorts of differently shaped and sized pectorals been found, and different parts from different segs were thrown together to make a single seg, so I personally doubt there was a strict 'design' in mind so long as the wearer was protected to a great degree. IIRC, I've even heard of two completely different halves being put together (or that's what the evidence seems to tell us), and if they had differently shaped pectorals then it's difficult to imagine a clear design being strictly adhered to. I tried a Deepeeka half and an Albion half together (the straps go opposite to each other so it was only to see what the visual effect was) and it's not as ridiculous as you might think.