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Art Archive/Archaeological Museum Naflion/Dagli Orti

“BRONZE-GREAVED ACHAEANS.” Before 1950, no bronze armor dating to the era of the Trojan War had been found, making Homer’s references to the warriors’ accoutrements suspect. But archaeological excavations at Enkomi in Cyprus have now uncovered a pair of Mycenaean Age bronze greaves (shin guards). Excavations at Achaea in the northern Peloponnesus and Dendra in the eastern Peloponnesus further confirmed Homer’s descriptions of armor when greaves dating to the Bronze Age were found at those sites. The Dendra excavation also yielded a complete Bronze Age cuirass, or breastplate, that matches Homer’s description and dates to the 15th century B.C.