08-29-2009, 01:30 AM
I'm intrigued by one rather anorakish aspect to Spartan military dress (of any period) which is - would they really wear anything white in colour?
I remember reading somewhere they had an aversion to the colour white, which they considered to be suitable only for women to wear (no disrespect intended to ladies here or back then). Also having taken great pains to wear crimson tunics, capes etc. which hid the blood in battle - would they really go and spoil the effect by wearing a white linen cuirass on top? Really?!!! I rather think not. There are some otherwise very nice pieces of artwork on this forum (and elsewhere) which depict this particular paradox. My own view is that the Spartans would have dyed their stiffened linen armour a more suitable colour (like red/crimson/scarlet or brown or black) or wore something else altogether.
However, I am always interested in others opinions. Perhaps somebody could shed some alternate views on this one?
I remember reading somewhere they had an aversion to the colour white, which they considered to be suitable only for women to wear (no disrespect intended to ladies here or back then). Also having taken great pains to wear crimson tunics, capes etc. which hid the blood in battle - would they really go and spoil the effect by wearing a white linen cuirass on top? Really?!!! I rather think not. There are some otherwise very nice pieces of artwork on this forum (and elsewhere) which depict this particular paradox. My own view is that the Spartans would have dyed their stiffened linen armour a more suitable colour (like red/crimson/scarlet or brown or black) or wore something else altogether.
However, I am always interested in others opinions. Perhaps somebody could shed some alternate views on this one?
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Ghostmojo / Howard Johnston[/size]
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[size=75:2kpklzm3]Xerxes - "What did the guy in the pass say?" ... Scout - "Μολὼν λαβέ my Lord - and he meant it!!!"[/size]
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Xerxes - "What did the guy in the pass say?" ... Scout - "Μολὼν λαβέ my Lord - and he meant it!!!"[/size]
