The Mysterious Armor Worn by Alexander the Nice – Gregory Aldrete and Lex Fridman
“Gregory Aldrete is a historian specializing in historical Rome and navy historian.” from the video introduction
Professor Gregory S Aldrete
“Reconstructing and Subject-Testing Historical Linen Physique Armor: The UWGB ‘Linothorax’ Challenge.” from the video introduction
Alexander the Nice Linothorax
Alexander the Nice might be essentially the most identified persona of Greek historical past. His small modern military and the techniques that invented and utilized within the navy fields made attainable the unachievable, the whole conquest of the until then identified world ( From the Greek mainland to Western India, creating the unified Hellenistic Oikoumeni). One of the well-known depiction of Alexander is coming from the so referred to as Pompeii Mosaic (1st century AD). The mosaic most likely is a duplicate of an earlier work of the Hellenistic interval dated again to the third century BC.
From stylistic viewpoint, the reconstruction was primarily based to this very mosaic representing the Macedonian commander defeating Darius the Battle of Issus in 333 BC. Apparently, the composite natural armor that depicted to this very mosaic is a Linothorax kind of navy defensive gear, a large unfold typical Greek physique armor worn by Greeks at the very least from the center of the sixth century BC.
Description of the torso armor.
Over 30 m2 of linen material had been used to kind the interior layer (torso space and epomides/shoulder guards ) upon which there have been correctly mounted the metallic particles ( bitten bronze scales and plaques).The low pteryges ( higher legs and groin safety) have been made by thick leather-based.
The torso space is roofed by two varieties of rectangular overlapping bronze scales. To the center of the entrance scales, small ornamental bronze lion heads have been securely hooked up. The again scales bearing a ridge within the center as an alternative. It must be talked about that the creative resemblance of Alexander with a lion look was established from the early years of his navy profession as a part of the state propaganda. Within the breast space three anatomical bronze plates have been fixed with rivets on the substrate linen. In the midst of the central plate of the chest has been put a bronze apotropaic Gorgoneion (Medusa) following the present creative necessities of the 4th century BC. Additionally, a pair of lion-shaped fastening factors are in the course of the entrance aspect and three extra comparable pairs are current within the vertical trim within the area beneath of the left armpit ( 5 pairs of loops).
The higher a part of the armor which protects the higher again and the shoulders space has been coated roughly with 400 bronze ridged scales fixed with rivets on the material substratum. For aesthetic and sensible causes the width of the flakes of the entrance shoulder pads are smaller than these of the again. Respectively, on the ends of the 2 entrance shoulder protections we meet a pair of bronze lion head loops which with the assistance of leather-based thongs join the higher a part of the armor with the torso (two pairs of fastening mechanism). Two attribute bronze embossed “Macedonian suns” perform as keystone for securing the shoulder defences to the primary physique within the rear higher area.
The leather-based wings protruding from the 2 shoulders openings aren’t hooked up on to the shoulder bridges however they consist a separate defensive addition which is fixed independently to the torso of the warrior. At their edges bear leather-based folded fringes as additional ornament.
The wings (pteryges) of the decrease limbs have been settled in a double row and have been manufactured from thick leather-based. As well as, the leather-based straps of the decrease wings have been handled individually with pure wax for lengthy lasting safety from moisture and disintegrating results of the solar. Every strip carries leather-based aspect trim in all sides as an additional ornamental factor. Steel ornamental bronze pads lion heads are positioned with rivets to the underside of the wings providing stability and a wealthy ornament. Across the torso a leather-based struggle belt with the attribute bronze Macedonian Dynasty emblem finishing the set.
It must be talked about that there are multiple attainable reconstruction of Alexander torso. Right here a primary skilled try was tried by the creator Dimitrios Katsikis…” from the article: Alexander the Great Linothorax
