Ichcahuipilli

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The ichcahuīpīlli, known in Spanish as escaupil,

"shirt".

Use

Ichcahuipilli armor was a lightweight, multifunctional garment worn on the torso of the warrior, designed to provide blunt-force trauma protection against clubs and batons, slash protection from obsidian

Upon contact with a shot projectile, the dense fibrous materials of the vest would absorb the energy of the shot and dissipate it on a much larger area, stopping the bullet or arrow in the vest.

Atlatl darts in particular were found to regularly penetrate European chainmail. Ichcahuipilli was so effective at stopping arrows, darts, and even lead musket shot,^[4] Spanish soldiers often discarded their own, heavier plate armor, which was uncomfortable in the warmer, moist Mexican climate and prone to rust, in favor of indigenous armor which was lighter and comparatively maintenance-free.^[5][6]

Variations

Most ichcahuipilli were made in a vest style that covered the torso down to the hips; however, various other designs were made and worn by Aztec soldiers of different ranks and warrior societies. The armor came in sleeved variations or in surcoat designs that covered most of a warrior's body down to the knees.

Popular culture

For

pima and botto. The armor was able to stop the arrows and even ward off some of them. It was later determined that although the arrows penetrated the material, the arrows were stopped and penetration was minimal enough to not cause any serious injury.

See also

• Aztec warfare
• Armor
• Linothorax
• Gambeson

References