What was the perizoma made of?

[John Conyard]

I appreciate that we have spent many enjoyable hours debating linen and it's possible use in the tube and yoke cuirass.

So I hesitate to ask, but what material do people think the perizoma is made of? The patterns on it suggest it is made of similar material to the thick tunics sometimes worn as some sort of light armour.

Has anybody tried making one?

[hoplite14gr]

The question has a broad answer because no two people agree on what the tern defines.
The available materials were wool linen and leather.
Cotton might have been introduced in the hellenistic times.

Based on reanacting experience I advise linen.

KInd regards

[John Conyard]

I don't disagree, but it would have to be some pretty tough linen. Very tough linen.

[hoplite14gr]

Hmmm...please define what do you describe as perizoma?

Kind regards

[John Conyard]

An apron of thick material.

A material which seems to be related to that used to make whole tunics as a simple light form of armour.

I must admit that I mess around with linen string making nets etc. I would trust my swords to cut through any linen I could wear as a tunic.

Felt, goat hair etc all have possibilities.

[hoplite14gr]

Unless I got it wrong you try to reconstruct Osprey's definition of perizoma based on a few pottery items.
Nik Segunda thought it also a version of the spollas.

I failed to skewer a stake covered with 10 layers of linen in my kichen (linothoax thread).
I own a black 15 layer linen cuirass. (flexible but heavy).

May I suggest a 10 layer linen apron at least. Do you think it is going to be haevy?

Kind regards

[John Conyard]

I'm not trying to reconstruct one in the near future, I was just interested in the materials to use.

10 layers of linen, glued or quilted, could be used to make a version of the perizoma. But I'm not sure that it could be used to make a tunic as seen on vases. I don't think it would hang correctly.