The Armour Archive

Does anyone have any information about linen greaves? A friend of mine wants to put together an inexpensive greek harness. I was looking up a "how too" for a linothorax and stumbled across this site.

http://www.larp.com/hoplite/linothor.html

He mentions linen greaves. I was wondering, for SCA purposes if we could extend that concept to bazubands as well. I have an old set laying about I was planning to give him.

Here is a pic of the greaves.
http://www.larp.com/hoplite/lingrvs.jpg

I have held the greaves you posted. The layering of linen made for a good cut defense and in the tube of a body corset provides blunt trauma protection but if unsupported as in the cup of a bazuband,... not much to keep the armor from folding. Another problem with linen armor is a tendency to absorb water and become very malleable. If a water repelling agent is used on the base, I think the technique will work for cuisses. The Romans may have made the armor aprons/skirts (pteruges) in this way. In the same way I think lower greaves in this form could work but the greaves should in no way protect the knee...as they wouldn't.

Have fun with the lino-thorax, that should work just fine. (once water proofed!)

Might be a minor point, but my linen greaves are for the Bronze Age, and there is no evidence that they continued in use into the Classical era. Even though the linothorax definitely did!

Other than that, yeah, mine are not dished out over the knees, so they don't really work very well. Not sure how you might dish linen! And of course mine are only 4 or 5 layers, and you'd want at least 15. And yes, sweating in my linothorax in hot weather made it quite flexible.

Here's a more recent photo, with all the stripes in place and my bronze Kallithea greaves on top:

http://www.larp.com/hoplite/mycgrv1.jpg

You can see the problem at the knee cap. Elbows might work better? Don't know!

Good luck,

Matthew

Since this would be for SCA heavy he would probably use plastic covered over with a couple layers of fabric. That would solve (or at least alliviate) the blunt trauma and moisture problems.

For SCA combat armour he isn't worried in the least about authenticity. I'm attempting to temper that with a bit of research by at least giving him a more consistant appearance.

For SCA combat armour he isn't worried in the least about authenticity.

Sad day.

Gregory J. Liebau wrote:

For SCA combat armour he isn't worried in the least about authenticity.

Sad day.

A very sad day.

Matthew Amt wrote: Not sure how you might dish linen!

my experience in tailoring says it works jut like wool . . .only not as eaily or well . . .lots of heat and water, steam included, and severe pressure (unless you are trying to felt it then a whole other easier story that has nothing to do with linen)