More glue - bah

[Tarbicus]

One need look no futher than Arrian [6.9]
"No Indian ventured to approach Alexander as he stood on the the fortress wall; but he was the target of every marksman in the neighbouring towers; men in the town shot at him too - and from no great distance either... That it was indeed Alexander who stood there was plain to all; his almost legendary courage no less than his shining armour proclaimed him."

I've never seen a single author describe leather or linen armour as "shining"

White linen, and clean at that? The pyramids were described similarly, IIRC, and they were covered in white limestone not metal (except the capstone of gold). What time of day was the description from?