Illustrations of Sassanid Persian Clibanarii

[Renatus]

Ammianus' description of both Roman Clibanarii and Sassanid Cataphract riders is almost identical and the description of the tubular arm and leg armour is borne out by depictions of them both on monumental works but also in the Notitia, which by the way also shows iron cuirasses similar to those shown on the monuments. Where you have both written descriptions by those who saw the armour in person then corroborated by evidence on monumental works and in the Notitia I take that as fairly convincing to be honest.

I have no problem with any of that but I still don't think that it deals with Dan's point about plate being worn over mail.

I forget which author says this but he was describing clibinarii when writing:

"Circles of iron plates, fitted to the curves of their bodies, completely covered their limbs"

The Author is obviously talking about heavily armored men, as he describes them wearing manicas all the way up both arms and legs.

That is Ammianus 16.10.8, quoted by Adrian above.