Soldiers put ancient Greek armor to the test and discover its effectiveness in battle

Modern military volunteers donned replicas of ancient Greek armor and took part in exercises inspired by Homer’s epics Iliad. This demonstration shows how elite Bronze Age warriors could have fought in heavy protective clothing during sustained combat.

The results of the experiment strongly suggest that the 3,500-year-old Dendra Armor suit (one of the oldest known complete suits of metal armor from the Bronze Age in Europe) was indeed suitable for combat. Some scholars argue that it was merely a ceremonial costume of the Mycenaean civilization that once dominated mainland Greece and the Aegean islands.

Andreas Floris Researchers at the University of Thessaly in Greece recruited Greek marines in modern-day Greece and had them wear a 23-kilogram replica of the Dendra armor, giving each participant the ability to walk, run, ride a replica chariot, wear a sword, They performed combat movements using spears, bows and arrows, and even stones.

These activities, the co-authors say, follow Homer’s description of elite, heavily armoured warriors roaming the battlefield surrounded by groups of retinue, periodically attacking the enemy and then retreating behind the main lines to rest and eat. Ken Wardle At the University of Birmingham, UK.

“Homer’s combat activities were characterized by hit-and-run tactics, a form of physical exertion that modern physiology describes as ‘high-intensity interval exercise,'” says Floris.

During the 11-hour exercise period, researchers recorded the armor wearers’ heart rate, core temperature, and average skin temperature, performed blood tests, and measured the energy cost of each activity. . they again, Iliad The Mediterranean-style meal plan provides heavy breakfasts and dinners, as well as snacks such as dry bread, honey, goat cheese, and onions.

The armored volunteers tolerated the plan well, although they reported signs of fatigue and pain. But in a real combat situation, team members say they probably could have tried harder “if lives were at stake.” Yannis Koutetekis also at the University of Thessaly.

The team also used computer-based mathematical models to show how a warrior wearing Dendra armor could have survived an entire 11-hour battle period, in all but the harshest outdoor conditions and at the highest temperatures.

“Few archaeologists consider Homer a reliable source of information on Bronze Age warfare, and indeed this study touches little on the archaeological research on warfare and bronze armor, but the rigorous protocols for testing the armor are important in gauging its practicality for continued use in battle,” he says. barry molloy At the University of Dublin, Ireland.

The demonstration of the Dendra Armor in this study may help in the interpretation of similar remains such as the armor found at the so-called “Dendra Armor”. Tomb of the Griffin Warrior This is what we say in Greece sharon stocker and Jack Davis At the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. “I don’t see the Greek Marines adopting it as their official equipment anytime soon,” Stocker said.