Quote Originally Posted by The Celt
/\
So true.



A "Lorica Squamata" was a shirt of metal scales that the Romans used during the "Late Antiquity Period" i.e Late Empire(Well, for the West)era troops. See the Getai(sp?) General and lesser general in the previews for a pic of the Squamata.
No, squamata was probably invented by the Celts around the same time they invented mail. It was used throughout the Roman era, from the Polybian until the fall of the Western Empire and beyond. Specifically it more often turns up worn by Legionary officers, standard bearers etc.

Centurians have been depicted wearing a sort of scale defence but it is more likely Lorica Plumbata, which is "scale-over-mail" and provides the best protection. The type of scale armour used in the later empire is quite different, in the the scales are longer and laced directly together, rather than just onto a cloth or leather backing.