Pteruges

Pteruges (also spelled pteryges; from Ancient Greek πτέρυγες (ptéruges) 'feathers') are strip-like defences for the upper parts of limbs attached to armor of the Greco-Roman world.

Pteruges formed a defensive skirt of leather or multi-layered fabric (linen) strips or lappets worn hanging from the waists of Roman and Greek cuirasses of warriors and soldiers, defending the hips and thighs.

Similar defenses, epaulette-like strips, were worn on the shoulders, protecting the upper arms.

Pteruges could be arranged as a single row of longer strips or in two or more layers of shorter, overlapping lappets of graduated length.

Artistic depictions of such strip-like elements can also be interpreted as vertically-stitched quilted textile defenses.

Alexander the Great in battle. Pteruges of leather or stiffened linen are depicted at the shoulders and hips, emerging from beneath his cuirass . Detail of the Alexander Mosaic , a Roman copy of a Hellenistic painting.
Pteruge featuring the face of Jupiter-Amon at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon