What Armor Did the Heroes of the Odyssey and the Iliad Wear?
The accuracy of movies and TV shows is a topic of discussion whenever a new historical epic hits our screens. In the case of Homerâs epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, what is or is not accurate depends on your perspective (and thatâs even if you ignore the question: Is the Odyssey a true story?). The composition of the poems is attributed to Homer, and scholars date their writing to about 725â675 bce, but the stories themselves are set in a legendary past and evoke the Bronze Age. Because of this, some argue that an accurate depiction of Achilles, Odysseus, and their comrades would have them in Mycenaean armor. However, the descriptions found in the epics are a mix of the historical memory of some Bronze and Early Iron Age aspects with details from the world that Homer knew. So it could also be argued that giving them Archaic period gear would be more accurate to the time period in which Homer composed the poems.
Hereâs a look at the two different styles of armor that could reasonably be deemed accurate to the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Mycenaean armor
During much of the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550âc. 1200 bce), Greece was dominated by the Mycenaean civilization. The armor of this period is well understood thanks to the 1960 discovery of a complete suit in the village of Dendra, near the site of Mycenae. Now known as the Dendra panoply, the armor is composed of bronze plates that cover the wearer from chin to knee.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
Of particular note is the helmet: It is made of leather and boar-tusk slats, recalling Homerâs description of a helmet Odysseus wears in the Iliad. And it isnât the only example. Other Mycenaean helmets with a similar design have been found.
In 2024 researchers in Greece conducted a study on the performance of reconstructed sets of Mycenaean armor. They found that the suits would have been comfortable during long periods of combat.
Archaic armor
The Iliad and Odyssey were composed during the Archaic period. While some of their descriptions recall facets of the Late Bronze Age, others describe the material culture of the Archaic period. The potter Exekias, who worked in the mid-6th century bce, made multiple vessels depicting scenes from Homerâs epics. In these he drew the armor that he knew, featuring decorated, close-fitting breastplates and helmets with curved, feathered crests.
Exekiasâs depictions match what we know of Archaic armor. The Ărgos panoply, which was found in the 1950s at Ărgos and dates to the 8th century bce, shows the accuracy of these depictions of Archaic armor.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
A variation of this armor can be seen in depictions of hoplites, foot soldiers who became a feature of Greek military units in the 8th century.
