Lorica segmentata
The Lorica Segmentata is articulated, splinted or braided armor that was used in the Roman army at the beginning of the 1st century AD .
description
The Lorica Segmentata can be found in Kalkriese as early as 9 AD and was probably used until the late 2nd century AD. This type of armor did not replace chain mail , the Lorica Hamata , at any time. In fact, the use of the armor was limited to a period of about 250 years. The hamata remained the primary armor . The Roman cavalry also held on to the chain mail for the most part, as it was more flexible than rail armor. In addition, the Lorica Segmentata required a much better supply of spare parts than a chain mail shirt and it took more time to put it on. In the 3rd century AD, when the Roman Empire was increasingly harassed by external enemies, the need for rapid deployment of the troops increased, so that this property was severely hampered. The Lorica Segmentata usually consisted of 26 iron rails (clasps) that were bent around the trunk and held together by hinges and buckles riveted to leather straps and by lace hooks at the front. The main parts were the belt and shoulder rails. Depending on the thickness, number and size of the rails, Roman armor could weigh up to 14 kilograms. The rail armor provided good protection from bladed and cut weapons, but a blow with a stabbing weapon could get right between the metal rails, so the armor would not provide protection in this case. That is also the reason why the rails were arranged in such a way that they slightly overlapped each other and thus could not create any direct gaps.
The name Lorica Segmentata was invented by antiquarians in the 16th century , as the original name for the Roman rail armor has not been passed down.
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Reconstruction in the Roman & Celtic Museum in Manching
See also
literature
- Mike C. Bishop: A handbook of articulated Roman plate armor (= Lorica segmentata. 1 = Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies. Monograph. 1). Armatura Press, Duns 2002, ISBN 0-9539848-4-2 .
- Auguste Demmin : The weapons of war in their historical developments from the earliest times to the present. An encyclopedia of armory. 4th edition. Friesenhahn, Leipzig 1893, p. 224 , p. 232 , p. 237 .
- Graham Webster: The Roman Imperial Army of the first and second centuries AD University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK 1998, ISBN 0-8061-3000-8 , pp. 122-124 (images).
