Linen armor

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Alexander the Great on Bucephalus . The linothorax is painted with a Medusa head on the chest. (Detail on the Alexander mosaic )
Schematic sketch of a linothorax

The linen armor , in Greek linothorax , is a linen- based breast armor that was mainly used in ancient Greece . It was considered so precious that it was offered as a consecration gift in the temples .

description

The exact structure of a linothorax is unknown, as only a few fragments have been found and reconstructions are mainly based on artistic representations - e.g. B. Vase paintings - have to support. Research today assumes that in the original linen armor, several layers of linen were glued on top of each other, for example with hide glue, whereby the fabric laminate became quite stiff and tough. Depending on the property of the owner, the armor could also be reinforced with bronze , which was mostly sewn on in the form of small plates ( scale armor ). Most of the time, however, the armor was painted and the lower part was cut into fringe-like strips. Linen armor was mainly designed in the form of a flap armor . From the 4th century BC Even simpler linen armor, which was not glued but padded with wool, was increasingly used. This shape was reminiscent of a quilt and was often colored red. In the 5th century BC The linen armor developed into the most important form of armor for the Greek hoplites because it was lighter and cheaper than a breast armor forged entirely from bronze, and it also adapts perfectly to the wearer's body thanks to the body heat.

The linothorax was also adopted by the Persian cavalry , among others .

literature

  • Gregory S. Aldrete, Scott Bartell, Alicia Aldrete: Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor. Unraveling the Linothorax Mystery. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2013, ISBN 978-1-4214-0819-4 .
  • Rupert Matthews: Alexander the Great at the Battle of Granicus. A Campaign in Context. Spellmount, Stroud 2008, ISBN 978-1-86227-448-8 , pp. 39, 40, 94.

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