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303:
147:. These greaves are thought to have been mass-produced by the Romans using presses on sheets of metal and then attaching lining, usually leather or cloth. While it is generally assumed that greaves were always worn in pairs, there is evidence that many wore just a single greave on the left or right leg. Many skeletons have been found buried with only a single greave, including gladiators and soldiers. People may have worn a single greave as a sign of status, as opposed to any practical use.
221:
284:
135:, ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί). The Iliad also mention the ἐπισφύρια which were either plates covering the ankle , attached to the lower edge of the greaves , or more probably a clasp fastening them round the ankle and were often silver. While these are primarily mythological texts, they still dealt with warfare and the fact that greaves were mentioned is evidence that they were indeed in use. There are also non-fictional testimonies of their use among Roman light infantry (or
240:
530:
185:, or greaves that only protected the shin. Illustrations showing “closed greaves”, or greaves that protected the entire leg first appear around 1290 and become popular in the 1320s. Closed greaves are made of two plates joined on the outside by hinges and fastening with buckles and straps on the inside.
66:
from attack. The tibia, or shinbone, is very close to the skin, and is therefore extremely vulnerable to just about any kind of attack. Furthermore, a successful attack on the shin results in that leg being rendered useless, greatly hampering one's ability to maneuver in any way. Greaves were used to
205:(1334–1572), these took on the form of a splint mounted on a piece of fabric with mail in between the metal splint and fabric, not unlike European greaves. This is the most common form of suneate, termed shino-suneate, and saw continued use throughout the
250:(a technique in which metal is impressed from the rear to form a raised design), including a lion's face over the knee and lines emphasizing the calf muscles. Tiny holes lining the top and bottom edges secured a fabric lining and leather straps.
209:(1573–1602). Sometimes, cavalrymen used the older three-plate model, known as tsutsu-suneate. Like their European counterparts, most suneate contain leather padding on the interior to reduce the impact of blows and to reduce chafing.
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counteract this. They usually consisted of a metal exterior with an inner padding of felt. The felt padding was particularly important because, without it, any blow would transfer directly from the metal plating to the shin.
302:
271:
256:
197:, were first introduced during the eleventh century, during the late Heian period. The earliest form consisted of three plates of metal covering the shin. By the
678:
565:
170:, when they largely disappeared from use. The first evidence of their reappearance is in the 1230s or 1250s, most notably the depiction of
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181:(c. 1230). The lack of other evidence suggests that they were uncommon at the time. Almost all greaves used at this time are known as
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The reference to greaves (Ancient Greek: κνημίδες) exists in various texts of classical antiquity, including
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The
Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry
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Harry
Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Ocrea
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377:
Fortenberry, Diane (Oct 1991). "Single
Greaves in the Late Helladic Period".
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201:(1186–1333), greaves became a standard part of Japanese armor. Around the
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Left greave of a Greek
Hoplite. This example has elaborate decoration in
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Roman
Imperial Armour: The Production of Early Imperial Military Armour
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Bronze greaves were used in Bronze Age Europe by the
424:. New York: Frederick A. Praeger. pp. 284–285.
355:. Llandysul, Wales: Gomer Press. pp. 141–145.
312:. The knee area has hexagonal iron plates called
62:The primary purpose of greaves is to protect the
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483:. London: Arms & Armour Press. p. 15.
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163:Greaves were common until around the
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16:Personal armour to protect the leg
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960:Ancient Roman legionary equipment
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118:Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus
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351:Kaminski, J.; Sim, D. (2012).
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498:Oakeshott, R. Ewart (1996) .
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479:Robinson, H. Russell (1969).
308:Japanese samurai greaves, or
159:Italian greaves, 15th century
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466:Arms And Armour of Old Japan
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25:Staatliche Antikensammlungen
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468:. London: HMSO. p. 11.
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193:Japanese greaves, known as
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422:The Archaeology of Weapons
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965:Culture of ancient Thrace
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84:and the Central European
481:Japanese Arms and Armour
265:greave found in Romania
92:Ancient Greece and Rome
42:"shin, shin armor") or
506:: Dover Publications.
420:Oakeshott, R. (1960).
316:sewn inside the cloth.
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99:The Shield of Heracles
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464:Robinson, B. (1950).
179:Apocalypse manuscript
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985:Western plate armour
537:at Wikimedia Commons
296:, mid-13th century)
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133:euknēmidas Achaioi
50:that protects the
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504:Mineola, New York
292:wearing greaves (
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619:Close helmet
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746:Breastplate
664:Spangenhelm
609:Cervelliere
165:9th century
111:The Odyssey
58:Description
27:(Inv. 4330)
949:Categories
791:Lance rest
751:Brigandine
669:Kettle hat
629:Frog mouth
624:Great helm
491:References
333:Shin guard
183:schynbalds
124:The Aeneid
76:Bronze Age
37:Old French
35:(from the
898:Schynbald
842:Rerebrace
644:Mail coif
634:Hounskull
407:192937302
339:Citations
127:. In the
105:The Iliad
873:Chausses
852:Vambrace
847:Spaulder
837:Pauldron
832:Gauntlet
786:Codpiece
771:Plackart
715:Aventail
604:Burgonet
599:Bascinet
322:See also
263:Thracian
248:repoussé
145:Vegetius
141:Polybius
919:Gousset
893:Sabaton
878:Cuisses
822:Besagew
817:Ailette
781:Hauberk
766:Pauncer
756:Cuirass
730:Pizaine
594:Barbute
535:Greaves
328:Gaiters
310:suneate
290:Goliath
232:Hungary
213:Gallery
195:suneate
174:in the
172:Goliath
139:) from
137:hastati
71:History
44:jambeau
929:Rondel
912:Pieces
903:Tasset
888:Poleyn
883:Greave
827:Couter
725:Gorget
659:Sallet
649:Morion
510:
405:
399:505895
397:
143:up to
129:Illiad
121:, and
33:greave
868:Bases
776:Fauld
761:Culet
739:Torso
720:Bevor
694:Visor
589:Armet
403:S2CID
395:JSTOR
314:kikko
64:tibia
48:armor
40:greve
924:Lame
861:Legs
810:Arms
708:Neck
687:Face
582:Head
508:ISBN
116:The
108:and
387:doi
52:leg
951::
502:.
442:^
401:.
393:.
383:95
381:.
230:,
168:AD
114:,
102:,
54:.
31:A
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389::
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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