Armor
defensive covering worn to protect the person against weapons. The armor worn by the Greek warriors at the siege of Troy consisted of four pieces. The helmet was a metal cap, designed to protect the head. The cuirass consisted of a bronze breastplate and back piece reaching from the neck to the girdle, somewhat comparable to a vest. The two pieces were laced together at the sides with leather thongs. Bronze greaves or plates covered the leg to the instep. The fourth piece was a round or oval shield held in the hand. It is described as made of bronze, lined or backed with bull's hide. It was long enough to protect the entire body. At the beginning of the Middle Ages the armor consisted chiefly of mail; that is to say, flexible garments made of twisted. links of steel. The principal garment was the hauberk, or mail shirt, reaching from the neck to the knees. A stiff leather garment was worn under this to prevent the links from being driven into the warrior's body. Mail gloves and hose were worn. In its later and complete development the suit of armor was composed entirely of sheets of thin steel, ingeniously shaped, hinged, and riveted in such a way as to allow the arms and the legs to move freely. When the warrior donned his suit of armor and lowered the visor of his helmet, he was completely encased in metal, and was supposed to be proof against sword and spear. A knight clad in armor was supposed to be a match for any number of common men. A suit was so costly, however, that it could be owned only by the wealthy, who were thus given a great advantage over their fellows. A complete suit of armor was so heavy that the wearer could not mount his war horse without assistance, nor could he, if overthrown, rise without help. The development of archery, followed by the invention of gunpowder, which enabled men to fight at a distance, and made lightness of foot requisite to advantage in battle, rendered armor a useless incumbrance.
The castle halls, royal residences, and museums of Europe are filled with collections of armor which are shown with much the same interest as old china or plate. The tourist is surprised constantly to note the smallness of the suits. Judging from them, the distinguished men of the present day are very much larger in body than were the famous warriors of the Middle Ages.