Linothorax vs Spolas

[Ghostmojo]

Also, never do we hear of an arming cap worn as armour in its own right.

The pilos may well have been used as an arming cap, then worn without the helmet, then later remade in bronze as a helmet in its own right.

I was about to say that. I believe the Skiritai (whom I have been trying to introduce into this conversation - without a lot of success) probably wore the felt pilos as head protection; and the Spartans would have worn it (or something very similar) under their bronze pilos helmets.

It makes perfect sense for lighter, often skirmishing, troops to do this. There are obvious cost benefits too, particularly in a heirarchical society which is reflected in its troop types and their armour etc.