The neck area is being protected by a bronze circular collar with anatomical base attached to the upper part of the torso leaving no gaps between them, creating a solid continuation /extension of torso. Each of them is being consisted by four components, the major curved part and three minor bronze sections attached to the biggest shoulder part with bronze rings (thoracic and rear crescent-like extension) and leather thongs (horizontal narrow extension sheet).The pauldrons are being attached to the main torso through ring -leather cords mechanism. Despite their enormous volumes are fully operational and enable a full range of shoulder and arm moves (they hug entirely the upper torso area). The pauldrons are extremely sophisticated defensive gears seeing from architectonical and practical point of view. The reason is apparently practical, this sophisticated technical specification enables a much more easy frontal bending in the battle field, increasing the freedom of moves. Worth notable elements a) The bigger diameter of the right arm opening probably not by accident in a case of a powerful right hand warlord 2) The shorted height of the frontal thorax in comparison with the longest back plate. The inner surface has been covered with thick woolen padding. The locking mechanism that hold together the two plates is being based on Π-like bronze made receptors (kind of hinges) located in the shoulder area (two pairs) and to side abdomen area (another three pairs). The anatomy of the plates is far remoted from the Archaic or Classical cannon, no one artistic elements tends to reveal the major and minor athletic men anatomical elements eg. The main torso consisted of two bronze plates shaped in a rough anatomical way in order to create a tube like “capsule” able to enclose the torso of the hoplite. The materials were used: linen textile, leather and bronze sheets (1,2- 1 mm thickness). All the bronze particle were formed by traditional techniques (annealing) using hammers, anvils and of course source of fire for softening the metal surfaces. Τhe reconstructor of the armor, Dimitrios Katsikis, was based on P.Astrom drawings /description and by personal observations of the authentic items at Nauplion Museum. ![]() ![]() Such sophisticated metalworking achievements presuppose a full development social, military and commercial conditions, a flourished society full of energy and innovations. Primarily, the armor reveals an extremely high technological level and the existence of a high skilled technicians able to undertake such difficult and complicated projects. The armor should have been constructed around the middle of the 15th century BC (Late Helladic II period) and it is being consisted exclusively by bronze plates, in total 18 pieces of different sizes and shapes (full plate armor). Today the armor is being displayed at Nauplion Archaeological museum. ![]() (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, iv.)» conducted by P.Astrom head of the Swedish Archaeological team that undertaken the expedition. A full first-hand analytical description of this very item can be found on the report «The Cuirass Tomb and other Finds at Dendra. Ιt was unearthed back to 1960 by the Greco-Swedish expedition at the territory of Dendra village at Argolida region (Peloponnese, Greece), it was part of the findings that included the Mycenean Tomb number 12 (the final resting place of a local Warlord). Till today, the “Dendra armor” remains the oldest intact full-set of body armor of human history, representing in a unique way the Bronze Age military technological achievements.
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