The earliest examples of clothing worn by warriors are found in Sumerian
culture. The soldiers wore a long fringed skirtover which a wide band
of nailed leather re-enforced with metal studs for protecting the back
and chest was thrown over the left shoulder and hanging down the back.
They also wore rawhide caps and copper helmets sometimes fitted with
chin straps and padded with wool and leather.
Like the civilian population, the Egyptian soldiers wore the white schenti while troops
of tributary nations could wear coloured or striped versions. It was layered with a leather
apron and a belt of coloured cloth or leather. The head was protected by a padded wig or a
war-cap of thick cloth. Officers wore a Kalasaires with torso armour of leather or linen.
The light armour was suitable for the climate but not very effective in terms of
protection.
(iii) Greek soldiers wore a short draped woolen cloak called chlamys (Fig 1.22) made of a
strong, tightly-woven yarn fastened on the shoulder or back to cover both shoulders.
During warfare it could be wound around the left arm to deflect blows. The Greek cavalry
wore a leather jerkin strengthened with bronze disks, shoulder pieces and leather
leggings. The infantry wore the chest armour called cuirasse (Fig 1.23) made of sewn or
riveted metal scales re-enforced on the shoulders and chestover the padded tunic. The
helmet with a round crown, nose and cheek guards was made of shaped metal plates.
The Roman legionary and infantrymen wore the padded inner tunic with reinforced
chest under the coat of mail under the cuirasse to protect the wearer from burning hot or
icy cold metal. It consisted of overlapping plates of metal riveted to leather straps which
covered the chest, shoulders and waist.
The cuirasse of the Emperor or those of higher rank was made of embossed metal plates
depicting battle scenes with leather tabs trimmed with metal over the shoulders and
abdomen.
Roman accessories consisted of a broad belt of leather to which a leather apron could be
attached. They also wore sturdy boots with thick soles and several crisscrossing leather
thongs with shin greaves. The helmet originally of bronze and later of iron, had a smooth
crown with a plume of feathers, neck flange, cheek guards and a fixed visor with a slit for
the eyes. The gloves/gauntlets were lined with cloth or leather.
Like the civilian population, the Egyptian soldiers wore the white schenti while troops
of tributary nations could wear coloured or striped versions. It was layered with a leather
apron and a belt of coloured cloth or leather. The head was protected by a padded wig or a
war-cap of thick cloth. Officers wore a Kalasaires with torso armour of leather or linen.
The light armour was suitable for the climate but not very effective in terms of
protection.
(iii) Greek soldiers wore a short draped woolen cloak called chlamys (Fig 1.22) made of a
strong, tightly-woven yarn fastened on the shoulder or back to cover both shoulders.
During warfare it could be wound around the left arm to deflect blows. The Greek cavalry
wore a leather jerkin strengthened with bronze disks, shoulder pieces and leather
leggings. The infantry wore the chest armour called cuirasse (Fig 1.23) made of sewn or
riveted metal scales re-enforced on the shoulders and chestover the padded tunic. The
helmet with a round crown, nose and cheek guards was made of shaped metal plates.
The Roman legionary and infantrymen wore the padded inner tunic with reinforced
chest under the coat of mail under the cuirasse to protect the wearer from burning hot or
icy cold metal. It consisted of overlapping plates of metal riveted to leather straps which
covered the chest, shoulders and waist.
The cuirasse of the Emperor or those of higher rank was made of embossed metal plates
depicting battle scenes with leather tabs trimmed with metal over the shoulders and
abdomen.
Roman accessories consisted of a broad belt of leather to which a leather apron could be
attached. They also wore sturdy boots with thick soles and several crisscrossing leather
thongs with shin greaves. The helmet originally of bronze and later of iron, had a smooth
crown with a plume of feathers, neck flange, cheek guards and a fixed visor with a slit for
the eyes. The gloves/gauntlets were lined with cloth or leather.
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