In a groundbreaking study that bridges past and present, researchers have provided compelling evidence that the armour worn by Mycenaean warriors during the Late Bronze Age was not only ceremonial but also battle-ready.
The so-called Dendra panoply, a full-body suit of armour that includes a boar’s tusk helmet and bronze plates, was originally discovered in the village of Dendra in Argolida, Peloponnese. The armour is one of the oldest complete suits and is currently displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio.
The study, which has drawn attention for its archeo-physiological approach, combined thematic analysis, human experiments, and numerical simulations to assess the armour’s effectiveness, experts said. It involved 13 soldiers from the Hellenic Armed Forces who engaged in an 11-hour battle simulation, rigorously testing the armour’s durability and combat-readiness
The simulation was based on physiological principles and aimed to recreate the conditions described in Homer’s “The Iliad,” providing a realistic portrayal of the epic battles of the Trojan War. The soldiers’ performance in the replica armour offered a unique glimpse into the physical demands faced by ancient warriors and the protective capabilities of their gear.
The study’s findings, which were published in PLOS One, have significant implications for our understanding of prehistoric European and Eastern Mediterranean warfare. They suggest that the social transformations of the era may have been influenced by the technological advancements in warfare, as represented by the robustness of the Mycenaean armour.
Furthermore, the volunteers’ adherence to a diet similar to that of a Mycenaean soldier added another layer of authenticity to the experiment, allowing researchers to consider the impact of nutrition on a soldier’s performance in battle.
The study not only sheds light on the practical aspects of ancient Greek warfare but also highlights the innovative methods used by modern researchers to explore historical mysteries. The successful simulation of the Dendra armour in combat reaffirms the ingenuity of Mycenaean craftsmanship and provides a tangible connection to the legendary tales that have shaped the understanding of ancient history, according to experts.