Researchers have demonstrated that a 3,500-year-old suit of Mycenaean armor, discovered in Dendra, Greece, is battle-worthy through a unique experiment involving modern soldiers. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, tested the armor’s effectiveness by outfitting 13 marines from the Hellenic Armed Forces in replicas and simulating Bronze Age combat conditions.
The armor, dating to the 15th century B.C.E., was found in 1960 in a tomb near the ancient city of Mycenae. Comprising 15 copper-alloy sheets held together with leather, the suit covers the wearer from neck to knees and includes arm and leg guards and a boar tusk-decorated helmet. This Dendra panoply is one of the oldest complete suits of European armor ever found.
To determine the armor’s practicality in battle, researchers recreated a Mycenaean soldier’s experience. The marines ate a traditional pre-battle meal of bread, beef, goat cheese, green olives, onions, and red wine before donning the armor and participating in an 11-hour simulation. The room was set to a historically accurate temperature of 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The simulation, based on descriptions from Homer’s Iliad, included foot soldier duels, soldier-chariot encounters, and chariot-ship interactions.
Despite its bulky appearance, the armor proved flexible and durable, allowing for a full range of motion while providing significant protection. The researchers concluded that the Dendra armor would have given Mycenaean warriors a considerable advantage in combat, supporting the idea that the Mycenaeans’ military technology contributed to their dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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