Corbridge A Breastplates - to cross or not cross diagonally?

[ambrosius]

Everyone seems to be thinking with a mental picture of a legionary at rest, arms down at his sides. But if his arms were raised (like often in battle) the pectoral plates, if angled, would still safely cover his sternum when his arms and shoulders were raised due to the inital overlap and angle. If they were neatly vertical and parallel at rest, wouldn't there be a chance of a gap showing in combat?

Well you could do a trial on that, Jim 8) The pectoral plates shouldn't
change their angle if you raise your arms (they obviously couldn't in
a Newstead :lol: ) If you raise your arms, then the shoulder-guards
just go up. That's why they're articulated.

Ambrosius/Mike