Makedonian Armour

[MeinPanzer]

I can't think of any certain evidence off the top of my head, but I think it might well have been done. There are a lot of helmets on vases that were likely painted, being decorated with checkered patterns or the like (although some of them may have been of composite construction). Some helmets on the Alexander Sarcophagus were painted blue and yellow.

Some helmets were painted, yes, but I'd be very careful with those Alexander Sarcophagus helmets- blue was often used to represent iron in ancient art and yellow bronze, so they most likely actually weren't painted.

Somewhere on this forum there is a painting of a hoplite in painted armour based on the artist's interpretation of some reference in art or literature. We know many medieval helmets and other pieces of armour were painted in colourful designs because we have intact examples. This at least proves that plate armour meant to be used in battle was painted in some cultures.

Yes, there is proof of armour being painted in other times and other cultures, and helmets being painted by the Greeks, but I have yet to see very conclusive evidence that metal cuirasses were painted.

Judging by the Alexander Sarcophagus, the Persian elite and their Macedonian successors could wear saffron and Tyrian purple on a hunt. Battle scenes from the same source seems to show linothoraxes dyed in the same colours.

If you actually look at the colour evidence from the late Classical and the Hellenistic period, purple seems to have been nowhere near as uncommon as most would expect. The two cavalrymen from the Aghios Athanasios paintings come to mind- both wear linothorakes entirely dyed purple, pteruges and all.