body armour and arrows

[Anonymous]

I think it's completely feasible to die from limb damage. I remember speaking with Matt Amt about a gladius piercing a segmentata. He scolded my by saying you'd never thrust for armoured areas. The soft spots would be the target. I also saw this repeated on one of those history channel shows where they take regular joe's and make them legionarys for a week. One of the segments was gladius training, and the instructor told them to go for the face, or unprotected limbs.<br>
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An arrow piercing your flesh, partly stopped by armour may not penetrate past the first inch or so. Even a light slash by a sword on skin, can create a gash for the entire length of your arm or leg! Even a thrust will do mroe damgae, the point of a gladius is bigger than an arrow head, so sheer size will create a larger wound. Now imagine you're breathing hard, your blood is pumping like crazy, and you're body is having a hard time clotting the wound because your blood pressure is through he roof! Also consider the number of major blood vessals that run through your legs and arms. Not to mention your neck.<br>
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Now factor in getting more than one slash or stab. You slump down on the battle field because you're exhausted from blood loss and fatigue. Sure, I can envision that easily.<br>
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Picture a major stab or slash wound to one of the meaty parts of your body....thigh, or shoulder, forearm. Having all those muscles torn and cut open would be devastating wound. I'm no doctor, but i'm pretty sure unless you had it stitched up, and was able to rest immediately, it would be fatal. <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>