02-10-2010, 11:20 PM
The hemithorakion is almost always considered to be breastplate that covers only the front of the body, though I know of nothing like that from a Hellenistic context. I suppose one could look at some Italic examples to find parallels. Polyaenus 4.3.13 makes it pretty clear that it covered the front part of the body. Looking at the CAH, apparently it was invented (or put into common use at least) by Jason king of Thessaly, in the early 4th century.
The interesting thing with the kotthubos (which most people believe is related to an Egyptian corselet, the kossumbos) and with names for armor in general is that we get a fair number of hapax legomena that are hard to identify and another set of extremely popular words that are practically impossible to identify more completely. Papyri from Ptolemaic Egypt describe several types of armor for which we have no parallels anywhere else. One leather cuirass (literally a cowskin armor) may be the equivalent of the kotthubos, or or the kotthubos may be some form of linen armor, as the kossumbos may have been. The whole thing is rather speculative. What I find more interesting is that the stele seems to work toward a standardization of equipment and equipment terminology.
The interesting thing with the kotthubos (which most people believe is related to an Egyptian corselet, the kossumbos) and with names for armor in general is that we get a fair number of hapax legomena that are hard to identify and another set of extremely popular words that are practically impossible to identify more completely. Papyri from Ptolemaic Egypt describe several types of armor for which we have no parallels anywhere else. One leather cuirass (literally a cowskin armor) may be the equivalent of the kotthubos, or or the kotthubos may be some form of linen armor, as the kossumbos may have been. The whole thing is rather speculative. What I find more interesting is that the stele seems to work toward a standardization of equipment and equipment terminology.
Paul
USA
USA
