07-22-2008, 03:34 PM
Quote:5kg sounds amazingly light.
Ah well - depends on the size, of course! I can't get into this one, so it's on the small size, which probably accounts for the lower weight. We have an incomplete hamata suit as well (no shoulder doubling) - but this looks rather short to me and may approximate more to a cavalry soldier's gear. Either way, the ring-mail suit is much heavier than the plate armour one, even without the shoulder doubling.
Our other segmentata suit is a lot heavier and has some peculiar features - for example, the frets on the lobate shoulder hinges are filled with red enamel - which I've never seen before in practice! Very Hollywood! It was donated to the museum by a re-enactor who was also a priest/monk (whatever - religious) and who was giving up the 'sport', presumably to study his bible more closely. He must have been a big bloke, because his suit is really heavy - but the metal thickness is noticeably thicker than the other one.
Caratacus/Mike Thomas
visne scire quod credam? credo orbes volantes exstare.
