If you’re referring to their less-than-slender look, that’s because armor is rather unflattering.
First there’s a layer of padding, called the subarmalis, basically the same as a medieval gambeson. Thick padded linen or leather that adds quite a bit of girth.
Then a lorica hamata/chainmail over the top, but to make that not dangle off of your shoulder, you strap it tight around the waist with a belt. Doing that and being to move around means you have to sort of let the top dangle over the belt a little.
That creates a very unflattering potbelly look, so you don’t see it a lot in media, but that IS how it works best
Methinks they’ve had some hamberders.
If you’re referring to their less-than-slender look, that’s because armor is rather unflattering.
First there’s a layer of padding, called the subarmalis, basically the same as a medieval gambeson. Thick padded linen or leather that adds quite a bit of girth.
Then a lorica hamata/chainmail over the top, but to make that not dangle off of your shoulder, you strap it tight around the waist with a belt. Doing that and being to move around means you have to sort of let the top dangle over the belt a little.
That creates a very unflattering potbelly look, so you don’t see it a lot in media, but that IS how it works best