11-10-2008, 11:27 PM
Hi all, new to posting so please bear with me.
In reference to the "Byzantine Bra" I have done quite a lot of practical research over the years on this one and have come to the personal conclusion that it is more useful as a tied cloth contraption than a leather strap device.
Visual evidence such as the ivory casket from the British Museum which seems to clearly show folds and a cloth like taper. Many other depictions seem to be devoid of even rudimentary detail though even allowing for lack of scale in period art if leather straps are indicated they would be unusually large.
I have found no real benefit from a leather arrangement over either maille or lamellar combined with the very real disadvantage that if too tight it tends to constrict breathing - never good as fatigue is the constant enemy of the armoured man. If too loose it tends to slip around, particularly on maille.
- if tied from two pieces of cloth, a chest band and a "braces" element it works well to prevent ones chest band from working it's way down to the waist with movement (particularly on maille).
The main uses I have found for the chest band is unit and rank identification based on colour coding, plus the arrangement tends to help prevent slouching of the upper body which also can cause fatigue when wearing armour.
I have seen no conclusive aid in carrying the weight of the armour as put forward by some, though it does help to keep ones armour "neat". I do not believe it had any primary role to keep ill fitting armour together as lamellar contruction is easily tailored (and repaired) in the field let alone the long hours of "soldier's work" one is subject to in any army.
Ingvar Carnifex
Patrick Urquhart
In reference to the "Byzantine Bra" I have done quite a lot of practical research over the years on this one and have come to the personal conclusion that it is more useful as a tied cloth contraption than a leather strap device.
Visual evidence such as the ivory casket from the British Museum which seems to clearly show folds and a cloth like taper. Many other depictions seem to be devoid of even rudimentary detail though even allowing for lack of scale in period art if leather straps are indicated they would be unusually large.
I have found no real benefit from a leather arrangement over either maille or lamellar combined with the very real disadvantage that if too tight it tends to constrict breathing - never good as fatigue is the constant enemy of the armoured man. If too loose it tends to slip around, particularly on maille.
- if tied from two pieces of cloth, a chest band and a "braces" element it works well to prevent ones chest band from working it's way down to the waist with movement (particularly on maille).
The main uses I have found for the chest band is unit and rank identification based on colour coding, plus the arrangement tends to help prevent slouching of the upper body which also can cause fatigue when wearing armour.
I have seen no conclusive aid in carrying the weight of the armour as put forward by some, though it does help to keep ones armour "neat". I do not believe it had any primary role to keep ill fitting armour together as lamellar contruction is easily tailored (and repaired) in the field let alone the long hours of "soldier's work" one is subject to in any army.
Ingvar Carnifex
Patrick Urquhart
Patrick Urquhart
aka Ingvar Carnifex
aka Ingvar Carnifex
