FRAGMENTS OF ROMAN CHAIN ARMOR (1ST–2ND CENTURY) IN THE COLLECTION OF NATIONAL MUSEUM OF UKRAINIAN HISTORY (NEW EXHIBITS)

Abstract

The article is dedicated to fragments of Roman mail armor (1st to 2nd century) found on the territory of Crimea. The mail armour was used in the ancient states on the Northern Black Sea coast since the first century B. C. until the fourth century. They looked like a shirt without sleeves with flaps that attached to a shirt with the help of fasteners in the form of iron or bronze hooks and rivets. Fragments of Roman mail armour are very rare in ancient historic sites on the territory of Ukraine. 892 fragments and 380 separated rings of the iron Lorica Hamata and two fragments with bronze rings were found between 1981 and 1993 during the excavation expedition on the place of the sanctuary of the ancient times at the pass Gurzuf Saddle in Crimea. The findings are kept in Yalta historical and literary museum. The Yalta Historical and Literary Museum is one of the only museums in Ukraine where remains of Roman offensive and defensive weapons are kept. The author of this article has emphasized that National Museum of Ukrainian History has obtained rare and very interesting exhibits of the ancient times. 

Keywords: Roman mail armor, Lorica Hamata, a fastener, Panticapaeum, Roman armor defensive shell