Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor: Unraveling the Linothorax Mystery

Alexander the Great led one of the most successful armies in history and conquered nearly the entirety of the known world while wearing armor made of cloth. How is that possible? In "Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor", Gregory S. Aldrete, Scott Bartell, and Alicia Aldrete provide the answer. An extensive multiyear project in experimental archaeology, this pioneering study presents a thorough investigation of the linothorax, linen armor worn by the Greeks, Macedonians, and other ancient Mediterranean warriors. Because the linothorax was made of cloth, no examples of it have survived. As a result, even though there are dozens of references to the linothorax in ancient literature and nearly a thousand images of it in ancient art, this linen armor remains relatively ignored and misunderstood by scholars. Combining traditional textual and archaeological analysis with hands-on reconstruction and experimentation, the authors unravel the mysteries surrounding the linothorax. They have collected and examined all of the literary, visual, historical, and archaeological evidence for the armor and detail their efforts to replicate the armor using materials and techniques that are as close as possible to those employed in antiquity. By reconstructing actual examples using authentic materials, the authors were able to scientifically assess the true qualities of linen armor for the first time in 1,500 years. The tests reveal that the linothorax provided surprisingly effective protection for ancient warriors, that it had several advantages over bronze armor, and that it even shared qualities with modern-day Kevlar. Previously featured in documentaries on the Discovery Channel and the Canadian History Channel, as well as in U.S. News and World Report, MSNBC Online, and other international venues, this groundbreaking work will be a landmark in the study of ancient warfare.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction The State of Linothorax Scholarship and Typologies of Greek Armor The Structure of This Book Methodology and Audience 1. Ancient Evidence for Linen Armor Literary Sources Linen in the Ancient World Visual Sources 2. Structural Variants and Decorations on Type IV Armor Structural Elements I: Shoulder Flaps Structural Elements II: Shoulder Flap Ties Structural Elements III: Pteruges Structural Elements IV: Structural Elements IV Decorative Elements I: Painted Designs Decorative Elements II: Color Distinctive Aspects of Etruscan Type IV Armor 3. What Material Was Used to Make Type IV Armor? Leather versus Linen Construction Sewn versus Laminated Construction Composite Construction 4. Reconstructing the Linothorax Developing a Basic Pattern Fabrics and Glues The Lamination Process Heroic Nudity and Armor Length Decoration Thickness 5. Arrow Test Methodology and Materials Arrow Test Rationale Test Patches Arrows and Bows Arrow Test Procedure 6. Arrow Test Results General Observations Less Significant Test Variables Hand-Produced versus Modern Linens Laminated versus Sewn and Quilted Different Arrowheads Depth of Penetration and Lethality of Injury Angled Shots Test Results Compared to Ancient Source Testimony Testing Other Types of Attacks Arrow versus Unarmored Warrior Arrow versus Test Patch: Test Result Tables Linen versus Metal Armor 7. Wearability Issues Potential Vulnerability to Moisture Waterproofing Experiments Durability and Repair Range of Motion, Mobility, and Fit Heat, Weight, and Endurance 8. Economic and Social Considerations Labor Required to Construct a Linothorax The Cost of Linen Armor Cost and Availability of Leather versus Linen Large- Scale Production Gender Issues Conclusion Appendix: Database of Visual Sources for Type IV Armor Black-Figure Vases White- Ground Technique Vases Red- Figure Vases Stone Sculptures and Reliefs Terracotta Sculptures and Reliefs Metal Objects Paintings Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Gregory S. Aldrete is a professor of humanistic studies and history at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. He is the author of Floods of the Tiber in Ancient Rome and Gestures and Acclamations in Ancient Rome, both published by Johns Hopkins. Scott Bartell is an independent scholar who has published and presented on linen body armor and Alexander the Great. Alicia Aldrete is coauthor (with Gregory S. Aldrete) of The Long Shadow of Antiquity: What Have the Greeks and Romans Done for Us?

Review :
Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor is essential for anyone interested in ancient warfare and/or experimental archaeology, from academic to layman, and is a defining and valuable contribution to our understanding of the ancient world. -- Christopher Matthew Bryn Mawr Classical Review Anyone interested in archeological textiles, historical textiles, historical reenactment, military history, costume construction, or flax and linen should consider this fascinating and unique book. -- Joanne Robbins Hicken The Complex Weaver Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor is a model example of the benefits that can come from creative engagement with historical re-enactors. -- Peter Thonemann Times Literary Supplement