Reconstructing Ancient Linen Body Armor: Unraveling the Linothorax Mystery

(John Hopkins University Press) Linothorax, linen armor worn by the Greeks, Macedonians, and other ancient Mediterranean warriors, is referenced in ancient literature and art but has been relatively ignored and misunderstood by scholars — no examples of it exist today. This study combines traditional textual and archaeological analysis with reconstruction and experimentation to scientifically assess the true qualities of linen armor for the first time in 1,500 years. This work has been featured on the Discovery Channel, in U.S. News and World Report, and other venues. Greg Aldrete is the Frankenthal Professor of History and Humanistic Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He and Alicia also have written The Long Shadow of Antiquity: What Have the Greeks and Romans Done for Us?