Lorica hamata

thumb|upright|Reconstruction of a Roman legionaryThe lorica hamata (<small>in Latin with normal elision:</small> ) is a type of mail armor used by soldiers for over 600 years (3rd century BC to 4th century AD) from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. Lorica hamata comes from the Latin hamatus (hooked) from hamus which means "hook", as the rings hook into one another.

Usage

left|thumb|Augustan period statue of a Gaulish soldier wearing a Roman lorica hamata

Modern historians believe that mail armor was invented by the Celts. With the idea for this form of mail possibly coming to Rome during conflicts with the Celts in the 3rd century BC, Over its lifetime, the lorica hamata remained in constant use by legionaries and it was the preferred armor of centurions, During the early empire depictions of emperors wearing either the lorica hamata or lorica squamata were very rare. However, during the later empire such depictions were more common. The armor was made from alternating rows of rings and rows of riveted rings. The rings would be made from punching holes in iron sheets. The riveted rings would be made from wires with their ends butted together. There were 35,000 to 40,000 rings in the armor. It was cut like a Greek cuirass made of linen. Leather pteruges were underneath the armor. The estimated production time was two months, even with continual slave labor at the state-run armories.

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References

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