Lorica squamata

Lorica squamata

The Lorica squamata is a type of scale armour used by ancient Roman military during the Roman Republic and at later periods. It was made from small metal scales sewn to a fabric backing. It is typically seen on depictions of standard bearers, musicians, centurions, cavalry troops, and even auxiliary infantry, but could be worn by regular legionaries as well. A shirt of scale armour was shaped in the same way as a lorica hamata, mid-thigh length with the shoulder doublings or cape.

The individual scales ("squamae") were either iron or bronze, or even alternating metals on the same shirt. They could be tinned as well, one surviving fragment showing bronze scales that were alternately tinned and plain. The metal was generally not very thick, 0.50 mm to 0.80 mm (.020" to .032") perhaps being a common range. Since the scales overlapped in every direction, however, the multiple layers gave good protection. The size ranged from as small as 6.3 mm wide by 9.5 mm tall (1/4" × 3/8") up to about 5 cm wide by 8 cm tall (2" × 3"), with the most common sizes being roughly 1.3 cm by 2.5 cm (1/2" × 1"). Many have rounded bottoms, while others are pointed or have flat bottoms with the corners clipped off at an angle. The scales could be flat, or slightly domed, or have a raised midrib or edge. All the scales in a shirt would generally be of the same size; however, scales from different shirts may vary significantly.

The scales were wired together in horizontal rows that were then laced or sewn to the backing. Therefore, each scale had from four to 12 holes: two or more at each side for wiring to the next in the row, one or two at the top for fastening to the backing, and sometimes one or two at the bottom to secure the scales to the backing or to each other.

It is possible that the shirt could be opened either at the back or down one side so that it was easier to put on, the opening being closed by ties. Much has been written about scale armour’s supposed vulnerability to an upward thrust.

No examples of an entire lorica squamata have been found, but there have been several archaeological finds of fragments of such shirts and individual scales are quite common finds - even in non-military contexts.

The type of armour in which the scales are laced to each other and need no backing at all is known as lamellar armour, while to confuse the matter there is also locking scale in which the scales are wired together without a backing. It can be difficult to tell which type of armour a single scale might have come from, as the Romans did not necessarily have different terms for each type. The typical scale had a vertical pair of holes at each side near the top, plus one or two holes at the top.

External links

* [http://www.gemina.nl/images/Rizisepics/Mainz_LandesMuseum_Loric.jpgscales of a slightly different type] .


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lorica Squamata — Lorica squamata …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lorica squamata — Detail Lorica : nom des défenses corporelles …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lorica Squamata — Grabungsfund einer Lorica Squamata im Somerset County Museum, England Als Lorica Squamata (lat. lorica = (Riemen)panzer, squama = Schuppe) wird der Schuppenpanzer der römischen Kavallerie in der Kaiserzeit bezeichnet. Beschreibung Die Lorica… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lorica squamata — Fragmentos de la lorica squamata …   Wikipedia Español

  • Lorica — is a Latin word literally meaning body armour and may refer to:* A number of types of Roman armour: **Lorica hamata, a hauberk of mail **Lorica manica, armguard **Lorica musculata, a cuirass **Lorica plumata, a shirt of ribbed scales resembling… …   Wikipedia

  • Lorica — steht für: Lorica (Militär), einen Teil der militärischen Ausrüstung antiker Soldaten, also eine Panzerung, hauptsächlich im Sinne eines Brustpanzers. Es gibt verschiedene Arten von Panzerungen einer militärischen Rüstung: Lorica Segmentata… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lorica Plumata — Eine Lorica Plumata mit Schwertgehänge. Die Lorica Plumata war eine Rüstung in der Römischen Legion. Beschreibung Die Lorica Plumata war ein Schuppenpanzer, der bis zu den Oberschenkeln reichte. Er ähnelte sehr der Lorica Squamata, unterschied… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lorica — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. 1.La lorica était une armure romaine, voir : Lorica hamata Lorica squamata Lorica plumata Lorica segmentata 2. Lorica (incantation)   …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lorica — El término lorica puede referirse a: Animales Lorica, un género animal. Litoria lorica, una especie de anfibio. Localidades: Santa Cruz de Lorica Municipio de Colombia. Loriga un pueblo en Portugal. Lorica es una armadura de la Antigua Roma.… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Lorica segmentata — Reproducción del equipamiento típico de un legionario romano, donde se puede apreciar la parte frontal de la lorica segmentata …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”