Manica

Евсеенков А.С.

Manica (Latin: manica) is a type of additional protective element of ancient Roman armor, consisting of several segments of metal elements. The appearance and protective properties of the manica are similar to the lorica segmentata, precisely because of its segmented structure. The name of the word manica came from the Latin manus ("hand") and literally means "sleeve".

Origin History

The first mentions of plates for hand protection are given by Xenophon, who describes the riders of the V—IV centuries BC. Instead of a shield, they wore a composite bracelet (Greek. χείρ). In the city temple of Athena Pergamon, there are images of bracelets, fragments of which were found during further excavations. Similar hand protections were mentioned among the Scythians, in the Kushan and Parthian states. Finds have been made in Halchayan (Uzbekistan), and Taxila (Pakistan). Another segmented bracelet was found in Ai-Khanum (Afghanistan), dating back to the middle of the second century AD. Like the Roman manicas, it has an expanded shoulder plate and 35 overlapping curved plates of smaller size, going "overlap". These finds are described in more detail in M. C. Bishop's book. Lorica Segmentata Volume I: A Handbook of Articulated Roman Plate Armour. — Armatura Press (pp. 18-21). From later sources on the segmented hand protection of other peoples, one can refer to Trajan's column, where Sarmatian armor is depicted.

Fragments of iron plates from Pergamon, a sketch from Bishop's book

Hellenistic Segmented Arm Armor from Ai Khanum, sketch from Bishop's Book

Sarmatian armor from Trajan's column, early 2nd century

Historians believe that the manicas came to Ancient Rome from gladiators, who due to the specific technique of combat, the protection of the leading hand with a weapon was particularly important. It is also often mentioned that the greatest role in the appearance of manicas in the Roman army was played by crupellarii - heavily armed gladiators of Gallic origin. Later, they gained widespread use in the Roman army during the Dacian Wars, as necessary protection against the slashing blows of the sickle-shaped swords - falxes. However, since archaeological finds are located throughout the Roman Empire, it should be concluded that they were used not only against the Dacians.

Bronze statuette from Versignes, presumably depicting Croupellarius, 1st century AD. Musee Jeanne d'Aboville

It's also worth noting another discovery, which can also be attributed to hand protection and in some way is a precursor to the manica - a scale glove from the bas-relief of Civita Castellana (Italian: Civita Castellana, Lazio region, Viterbo, Italy). The bas-relief has not been fully preserved, and it is hard to say exactly how much of the hand it covered. But nonetheless, it can be confidently said that this is a subtype of scale protection. Most likely, this was special officers' equipment, as indicated by the scale armor from the same bas-relief with reinforced shoulders and an officer's fabric belt (Lat. - cincticulus). Historians give a fairly wide dating of this bas-relief - from 1 BC, to the beginning of the 2nd century. It should be noted that during this period equipment in the Roman army changed particularly strongly, and in style, it is more characteristic of the Republican traditions of military affairs. However, there are other examples of somewhat archaic elements of equipment for the 1st century AD - a mosaic with a praetorian or the tombstone of centurion Marcus Favonius Facilis from the XX legion, whose armor is sometimes interpreted as a linothorax. This gives grounds to assume that such a version may also turn out to be correct.

A fragment of a bas-relief from Civita Castellana (Ital. Civita Castellana, Lazio region, Vitreo, Italy), 1st century BC-early 2nd century AD.

Bas-relief from Civita Castellana (Ital. Civita Castellana, Lazio region, Vitreo, Italy), 1st century BC-early 2nd century AD.

Manica on Legionnaires

There is confirmation that the manica began to be used in the Roman army in 43-70 AD. This is told by the drawings from the tombstones of Sextus Valerus Severus, Gaius Annius Salutus - legionnaires of Legio XXII Primigenia from Mainz. On the tombstones, the manica is depicted as overlapping plates. Meanwhile, on Severus's manica, one can recognize eleven plates on the arm and four plates on the wrist. Interestingly, part of the bas-relief can be interpreted as a division of protection of the phalanges of the fingers and the thumb.

There are not so many archaeological finds. There are several items that were not immediately recognized as manicas. The first was found in Carnuntum - a Roman military camp at the crossroads of the Amber Road with the Danube. This manica was made of copper plates. The second manica was found in Newstead. It was originally mistakenly described by Robinson as thigh protection, most likely due to a lack of preserved plates.

Manica from Newstead, National Museum of Scotland, bronze, dated AD 80-180.

Bas-relief from Adamklisi, early 2nd century AD

Image of a legionnaire's hand on the Sextus Varus Severus tombstone, Mainz, 1st century AD Image from Bishop's Book

There is also a manica from Carlisle. It is the most complete found iron manica, and its plates reach the wrists. X-ray analysis showed that at its end it should almost fully protect the hand.

Possibly in the Roman Empire there were several subtypes of manicas in terms of hand protection. Most likely they varied in their height and length, going differently onto the wrist and shoulder, and there was some customization for the owner and his main armor. Nevertheless, one can identify such common features as the arrangement of manica plates in "overlap", the absence of full closure around the hand and the widened upper plate.

X-ray of manica from Carlisle

Carlisle manica, iron, 1st-2nd century AD

Manica on Gladiators

In Rome, manicas first appeared precisely among gladiators, as they were extremely necessary for them due to the specific conditions of combat. Unlike legionnaires, there were many more possible variations of it. In addition to metallic, there was also a fabric version, similar in many ways to quilted armor. Sometimes another metallic manica was worn over the fabric one. The main advantage of this type was the ability to fully close the hand on all sides, which, considering the absence of fighting in formation, was especially important. The manicas also differed by the wide plate. There were options, like legionnaires - a not very wide shoulder plate not reaching the top, and even an oval plate for the whole shoulder. Sometimes the last plate not only widened but also had a form going beyond the shoulder in height - especially often such a type of manica was used by retiarii. It should be noted 2 types of gladiator manica, absent from legionnaires: chainmail and scale.

Such an element as a manica was noticed in the following types of gladiators: provocator, retiarius, murmillo, secutor, hoplomachus, Thracian, crupellarius, which speaks of the incredible prevalence of this element of protective equipment in gladiatorial games.

Gladiator fight. Floor mosaic. Nennig on the Moselle. Germany. Roman villa. Mid-3rd century AD

Bas-relief with gladiators, marble. 20-50 years. Pompeii, Stabian Gate, National Archaeological Museum, Naples

Bas-relief with provocateurs, 2-3 century AD, necropolis in Kiberia, Burdur Museum

Reenactment

There are many types of manicas, and you need to make your choice depending on the image being reconstructed. For legionnaires, the choice is already - iron or brass (bronze), and exclusively its segmented view. Moreover, if the period being reconstructed is earlier than the middle of the first century AD, then the possibility of using this element of protective equipment by legionnaires is questioned. Gladiators do not have such problems with dating. Moreover, the variety is much larger - to the named types of manica, fabric, chainmail, scale are added.