Heavy infantry of the twelfth century

Although Emperor Leo expressed the aspiration in his Taktika that the best equipped foot-soldiers might have metal armour, in practice in that earlier period, lamellar was primarily for cavalry. A scattering of later pictures indicate that in the twelfth century more infantry had the benefit of this exceptionally effective armour. This example is primarily based upon a twelfth century fresco of Saint Nestôr in the Church of Saint Nikholas at Kastoria. The construction of this lamellar is unique to Byzantium, and the inverted lamellar sleeves and skirt are also distinctive to this century.

Saint Nestôr, Church of Saint Nikholas, Kastoria.