A classical form of plate armor worn over the male torso
Greek bronze panoply with muscle cuirass from Southern Italy, 340–330 BC.
In classical antiquity, the muscle cuirass (Latin: lorica musculata),[a]anatomical cuirass, or heroic cuirass is a type of cuirass made to fit the wearer's torso and designed to mimic an idealized male human physique. It first appears in late Archaic Greece and became widespread throughout the 5th and 4th centuries BC.[1] Originally made from hammered bronze plate, boiled leather also came to be used.[citation needed] It is commonly depicted in Greek and Roman art, where it is worn by generals, emperors, and deities during periods when soldiers used other types.
In Roman sculpture, the muscle cuirass is often highly ornamented with mythological scenes. Archaeological finds of relatively unadorned cuirasses, as well as their depiction by artists in military scenes, indicate that simpler versions were worn in combat situations. The anatomy of muscle cuirasses intended for use might be either realistic or reduced to an abstract design; the fantastically illustrated cuirasses worn by gods and emperors in Roman statues usually incorporate realistic nipples and the navel within the scene depicted.
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^M. Treister, "The Theme of Amazonomachy in Late Classical Toreutics: On the Phalerae from Bolshaya Bliznitsa," in Pontus and the Outside World: Studies in Black Sea History, Historiography, and Archaeology (Brill, 2004), p. 205; Charlotte R. Long, The Twelve Gods of Greece and Rome (Brill, 1987), p. 184.
classical antiquity, the musclecuirass (Latin: lorica musculata), anatomical cuirass, or heroic cuirass is a type of cuirass made to fit the wearer's...
musculature of the male torso was idealized in the form of the musclecuirass or "heroic cuirass" (in French the cuirasse esthétique) sometimes further embellished...
sleeveless tunic called a chitoniskos the cavalry soldier would wear a musclecuirass designed to leave the arms as free as possible. Hoplites wore greaves...
restrictive and heavy armour would become more widespread in the form of the musclecuirass during classic antiquity before being superseded by other types of armour...
century is known to have made linen armor in this way. Gambeson Kevlar Musclecuirass Ichcahuipilli λινοθώραξ. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English...
textile are also described. Less common, due to its expense, was the musclecuirass. This was a defence made entirely of plate bronze consisting of a breast...
The cuirass itself could be variously constructed: of plate-bronze (musclecuirass), linothorax, scale, lamellar or mail. Pteruges could be arranged as...
performer's own skin or to match an associated costume. Armour CuirassMusclecuirass Lance rest Linothorax Pteruges Walker, Paul F (2013). The history...
iron lung include the so-called cuirass ventilator (named for the cuirass, a torso-covering body armor). The cuirass ventilator encloses only the patient's...
established by Polykleitos ossified in Hellenistic and Roman times in the musclecuirass, exemplified by the Augustus of Prima Porta, who wears ceremonial dress...
day, each carried a xyston (long thrusting spear), and wore a bronze musclecuirass or linothorax, shoulder guards and Boeotian helmets, but bore no shield...
"dress of Achilles" as Procopius calls it), wearing an antique-style musclecuirass, a plumed helmet of peacock feathers (the toupha), holding a globus...
a Renaissance version of a Roman soldier's attire: orange and green musclecuirass, pteruges, tunic and boots. His plumed helmet fell off his head and...
signification of the male body shown nude, partially nude, or costumed in a musclecuirass. Romans who competed in the Olympic Games presumably followed the Greek...
silver discs worn on the cuirass; armillae were bracelets worn on the wrist; and torques were worn round the neck, or on the cuirass. The highest awards were...
symbolic meaning for later generations. Roman armour, particularly the musclecuirass, has symbolized amazing power. In Europe during the Renaissance (15th...
Aurelius Marble statue of a young Marcus in military garb, wearing the musclecuirass, Altes Museum, Berlin Emperor of the Roman Empire Reign 8 March 161...
armour such as the musclecuirass were made of bronze, sometimes decorated in precious metal, as in the 3rd-century Ksour Essef cuirass. Armour and "shield-bands"...
the most popular. The earliest torso armour was a type of primitive musclecuirass of cylindrical form that had long fallen out of use elsewhere. Leather...
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