Manica (armguard)

Manica (Latin for long sleeves ) referred to in the context of Roman gladiators arm protectors from the shoulder up to and including the hand. On a few pictures also Roman soldiers are shown wearing the manicae. The standard equipment of the soldiers, however, did not belong. In contrast, almost all gladiators protected with manicae.

Development

Early manicae ranged only up to the wrist, and is similar in the Greco-Roman Boxing Glove ( caestus ). In nachaugusteischer time she then reached up to the armpit. From the 4th century also occurred sporadically manicae of metal on ( shed, chain, possibly pushed plate armor ).

Inventory materials

There were probably two different types of manicae from organic substances. Both species were reconstructed by Marcus Junkelmann using illustrations. The first type consisted of horse-hair stuffed linen, which was tied with a variety of leather straps around the arm. She weighed about 1 kg. The second type consisted of broad leather straps that were attached on one sleeve made ​​of soft leather. Both were running at the lower end in a mitten with thumb up, in which the palm of the hand remained free.