Pteruges

The pteryges ( Greek) or Pteruges ( Latin ) ( lit. feathers or wings ) were in the ancient common piece of clothing or armor component. It consisted of a series of textile or leather strips that were often shod with metal.

Description and Use

Pteryges occurred in different versions. As a garment they were worn down over the shoulders and fastened at the waist with a belt. A shorter version, the upper body not covered depended only down from a waist belt. The origin of the pteryges is seen in the made ​​of linen Greek Linothorax whose edges were frayed cut regularly.

As part of the hoplite armor Greek and Roman armor covered several partially overlapping rows of textile or leather strip on the side shoulders and part of the upper arms and hung below the breastplate shaped rock on the lower abdomen down to just above the knee. Together with the ironwork they formed a little limiting the freedom of movement protection of these games. The nature and thus protective effect as well as the attachment of these pteryges is controversial in research. Presented In part, the pteryges in the Roman Legion also a rank indicator is that had an inferior compared to the standard armor protection.

As part of the belt of the Roman legionaries ( cingulum militare ) pteryges came from about the middle of the 1st to the end of the 2nd century. AD in use. There are four to eight 30-50 centimeters long were fixed narrow strip of leather with riveted ornate round metal fittings and efeublattähnlichen metal tips on the belt so that it hung down in front of the step. The benefit of this pteryges on Roman military belt is not released. The fact that the thin leather strips were really useful as protection from bumps in the pelvic region, seems unlikely. You will be meted out by assuming that the clatter of metal pieces emphasized on the pteryges while marching, the presence of a legion, and so reinforced the impression to the enemy like an accessory or psychological function.

Later pteryges were attached to helmets in order to protect the neck and at the same time provide mobility. This variation occurred mainly in the Middle Ages in the Middle East.