Meaning of cardiophylax | Babel Free

Definitions

A piece of body armour—originally a metal breastplate or pair of plates—worn in classical antiquity to protect the region of the heart. Typically circular or square discs, fastened by leather straps, used in Italy from the Villanovan and Etruscan periods (7th century BCE) and later by Roman Republican legionaries and gladiators such as provocatores.

Equivalents

Examples

“Near-synonym: pectorale”

“On the other side of the cardiophylax, the surviving details indicate⟳ riders, possibly Dioscuri, within a frame of branches.”

“This is the cardiophylax, or heart protector, which Polybius tells us was worn in his own⟳ time by the poorer infantry, those who could not afford⟳ chain mail.”

“However, a cardiophylax appears on a fourth-century figurine recovered from southern Gaul at Nimes (Gard), raising the possibility that some Gallic warriors wore these forms of armour.”

CEFR level