Linothorax vs Quilted linen vs spolas

[immortal]

The reference to Aristophanes comes from the preceding entry on the sisura ("He de sisura periblema an eie ek diphtheras: en pente sisurais egkekordulemenos Aristophanes legei") and has nothing to do with the spolas. The second individual that he mentions is Sophocles, whom he quotes as "calling it Libyan:" "A Libyan spolas, a leopardskin." This second quotation does not provide another definition, but is merely another demonstrative quotation, and one that is hardly of help considering that it is poetic and likely mythological in nature. He never calls it a "leather chiton."

Herodotus mentions the Libyans as wearing garments of leather in Xerxes army. Depictions of Libyans at Persepolis show them wearing a long tunic, reaching to the ankles and a fur, or leather cape. Earlier Libyans are show with a piece of leather covering one side of the body with a hole for the arm, so it doesn't restrict movement (these were often made from leopard skins).

Two interpretations spring to mind, one is that it could be a long chiton style leather tunic, as the Libyans wear. The second, which to me is more appealing is that the 'Libyan Spolas' could be more akin to the animal skins worn to protect one side of the body.
Just an idea!