Lorica lintea

Мыслевцев А.С.

Lorica lintea (Latin: Lorica lintea) is an ancient Roman armor consisting of several layers of specially treated dense linen fabric, similar to the ancient Greek linothorax. The expression "lorica lintea" is derived from the Latin word "linum" (linen) and literally means "linen cuirass."

Armor of the lorica lintea type was made from 2-3 layers of linen fabric, which were boiled in a saline solution with vinegar. Boiling gave the armor the necessary hardness but deprived it of flexibility. Little is known about lorica lintea in Ancient Rome, but it is believed that Latin hoplites and velites could have used it during the time of the Kings and the Republic. During the Empire, these types of armor were rarely used, and only two depictions of fighters, presumably wearing lorica lintea, have survived—a praetorian guard and a centurion, both dating back to the first century. However, distinguishing between lintea and linothorax is not easy, and it is likely that lintea is simply the Roman term for linothorax.

Composite variants also existed. They offered greater mobility but less protection, and may have served more as status symbols than as effective armour. This type was used on the Italian peninsula. It was subsequently displaced by other forms of body armour, perhaps because it combined limited protection with a complex manufacturing process.

Related topics

Lorica, Linothorax, Hoplite, Centurion, Praetorian