More glue - bah

[Paullus Scipio]

Most likely, the Romans got the idea that Macedonians wore linen corselets from the famous passage describing Alexander himself wearing one at Gaugamela, which appears in Plutarch "Life of Alexander" XXXII.

After sending this message to Parmenio, he put on his helmet, but the rest of his armour he had on as he came from his tent, namely, a vest of Sicilian make girt about him, and over this a breastplate of two-ply linen from the spoils taken at Issus. 9 His helmet was of iron, but gleamed like polished silver, a work of Theophilus; and there was fitted to this a gorget, likewise of iron, set with precious stones. 10 He had a sword, too, of astonishing temper and lightness, a gift from the king of the Citieans, and he had trained himself to use a sword for the most part in his battles. 11 He wore a belt also, which was too elaborate for the rest of his armour; for it was a work of Helicon the ancient, and a mark of honour from the city of Rhodes, which had given it to him; this also he was wont to wear in his battles.

(translation courtesy of Bill Thayer's 'Lacus Curtius' website)

the "breastplate of two-ply linen" is also translated as "thickly quilted corselet"....and certainly the Persian Tube-and-Yoke corselets in the Pompeii mosaic of Issus are shown as quilted. It is likely then that Cassius Dio's 'three ply linen' was quilted, and since the Roman army, as far as I know, did not regularly use such equipment, it would have to have been specially made, like the rest of the equipment.....