Phalanxes as depicted in "Alexander"

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I'm afraid you are both half right and half wrong. the evidence is that linothorax was indeed made of linen, probably with a bleached leather covering on the outside, but that a leather version of the Spola also existed. As to the effectiveness of the armour; there are three different types so far identified, a hard laminate, soft laminate, and quilted. All three types provide decent protection all round, as I recall the hard laminate and quilted are the best at protecting against arrow strikes but all provide decent hand-to-hand protection. Though apparently the hardened varient can crack under blunt trauma.

[Ibrahim]

I'm afraid you are both half right and half wrong. the evidence is that linothorax was indeed made of linen, probably with a bleached leather covering on the outside, but that a leather version of the Spola also existed. As to the effectiveness of the armour; there are three different types so far identified, a hard laminate, soft laminate, and quilted. All three types provide decent protection all round, as I recall the hard laminate and quilted are the best at protecting against arrow strikes but all provide decent hand-to-hand protection. Though apparently the hardened varient can crack under blunt trauma.

do you have a link to the construction method of such types? now i'm interested.