Alexander the Great ceremonial battle dress

[John]

Hope someone casn help here.My son wants to depict A.t.G at school as an historic character.Can anybody direct us to a relevant website with pics of ceremonial attire to give us some clues. thanks

[jona]

The reconstructions in the Oliver Stone movie were not bad at all:http://www.alexander-the-great.co.uk/pr ... cs.htmGood luck!Jona

[jan]

I am also wondering about how much armor Alexander wore to protect himself in his battles. It is truly strange that you should post this this morning as it was something I am interested in as well. Proof of something...

[amyntoros]

Except that helmet isn't right, Jona. They got the two plumes right, but the decision to make it in the shape of a lion's head was a bit of mythologizing on the part of Stone and the costume designer.:-)Linda Ann

[xxx]

On the Alexander Sarcophagus, Alexander wears a lion's head helmet.

[ruthaki]

Well they weren't heavily and clumsily armed like the knights of Medieval times. The cuirass on display at the tombs museum, though it may have been a ceremonial cuirass, did not seem heavy. And there are several examples of greaves covering shin-bones from ankles to knees; and the helmets were not particularly heavy either. Some had nose protections depending on which army it was.

[Kit]

Although the armour uncovered in Tomb II at Vergina was an iron cuirass, and current theories are suggesting that even the 'linen' armour depicted in art work may actually have been merely a linen covering over iron/bronze.It would seem likely that Alexander may have worn a 'muscle' cuirass in battle. This was traditionally worn by the wealthy, and especially cavalrymen (as the horse would bear the greater weight).The fact that this is not specifically mentioned in the sources may well be because it was so 'usual' !?Kit

[jan]

Well, Ruth, I had an experience last evening which prompted me to want more information on the armor. I am really pleased with your answer, but like Kit, I believe that the extra weight probably did impact the horses. Do the plaques or labels provide weight of armor?

[jan]

Well, Ruth, I had an experience last evening which prompted me to want more information on the armor. I am really pleased with your answer, but like Kit, I believe that the extra weight probably did impact the horses. Do the plaques or labels provide weight of armor?

[amyntoros]

On the Alexander Sarcophagus he is wearing the head of a lion, same as depicted on the coins. And as I said before, there are also naked Macedonians in the middle of a battle on the Alexander Sarcophagus, something hardly likely to have happened in reality. It's all about artistic interpretation. Alexander was also painted as Zeus during his lifetime - doesn't mean he ever sat on the throne stark naked and carrying a thunderbolt.

[marcus]

The lion-head helmet was probably copied from a painting by Peter Connolly, who did a very nice picture for one of his books of the battle at the Granicus.I have to confess that I have no idea where Connolly got his design ... perhaps he took the lionskin from the Sarcophagus and turned it into a helmet.Hmm, this appears to be begging for some more research ...All the bestMarcus

[xxx]

However, nonetheless, that is a lion's head helmet, and Stone pretty much copied it. So one cannot say Stone got the helmet all wrong.

[xxx]

Alexander's helmet is pictured on the ground in the Pompeii Mosaic.His helmet is also pictured on the Porus medallion.

[marcus]

Is it now? I confess I've never noticed - I shall have a close inspection!I'd have to have another look at the medallion, too. I don't recall that the depiction is big enough to make out that level of detail on the helmet, but I might be wrong.I shall get out my magnifying glass! :-)All the bestMarcus

[xxx]

Not big enough, but gives the general shape which matches that in Tomb II.