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Armour literally means "a protective covering." Today this can refer to such things as Kevlar body armour, a hockey helmet, or even the heavy steel plates that blanket most modern assault vehicles. Historical body armour is separated into three classifications; "Lamellar", "Plate" and "Mail." |
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Military helmets date from ancient times. Their basic function was to protect the head, face, and sometimes the neck from the cutting blows of swords, spears, arrows, and other weapons. The Assyrians and Persians had helmets of leather and iron, and the Greeks brought helmet making to a pinnacle of craftsmanship with their bronze helmets, some of which covered the entire head, with only a narrow opening in front for vision and breath. |
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A Knight's shield could be round, square, or the kite shaped and was used to defend the knight from attack. A knight's shield protected him from the blows of battle as he held in one hand while we carried his sword or lance in his right andcould have provided identification in a manner similar to a banner, but a shield's markings could easily be beaten off completely in a battle. | |
