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{{Short description|Type of cuirass (armour)}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2011}}
[[File:Antique Indian char-aina (chahar-aina), kulah khud and madu.jpg|thumb|Classic Indian char-aina, also chahar-aina or chahar-ai-ne (the four mirrors), [[Persian language|Persian]] (چهارآينه), shown with kulah khud helmet and madu shield, Mumtaz Mahal Museum, Red Fort, Delhi India.]]
[[File:Antique Ottoman Empire armour (krug).jpg|thumb|Early 16th century Ottoman mirror armour (krug), a distinctively Ottoman protection consisting of large round steel plates in the front and back connected by mail.]]

'''Mirror armour''' ({{langx|ru|зерцало}}, {{Transliteration|ru|zertsalo}}, meaning "mirror"; {{lang-zh|护心镜}}, {{Transliteration|zh|hùxīnjìng}}, meaning "protect-heart mirror"), sometimes referred to as '''disc armour''' or as '''{{Transliteration|fa|chahār-āyneh}}''' or '''{{Transliteration|fa|char-aina}}''' ({{langx|fa|چهاﺮآﻳنه}} meaning "four mirrors"; whence {{langx|kk|шар-айна}}, {{Transliteration|kk|şar-ayna}}), was a type of [[cuirass]] used mainly in Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe; including [[Indian subcontinent|India]], Persia, Tibet, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire. It literally translates to "four mirrors" which is a reflection of how these pieces looked, which resembles four (sometimes more) metal discs or rectangular armour plates. Mirror armor was used in some cultures up to the 20th century.

==Description and history==
"Mirror armour" is a type of partial [[plate armour]] which was developed initially from round metal [[mirror]]s (a kind of [[Rondel (armour)|rondel]]) worn over other armour (usually over mail) as reinforcement. Metal mirrors in this armour were considered as protection from not only cold steel and arrows, but also supernatural influence. It was believed that mirrors could reflect the [[evil eye]], so they were polished and worn over other armour.

Early mirror armour consisted of a round mirror attached to the body with a few leather laces (similar to the Roman [[Phalera (military decoration)|phaelerae]]). In Europe, they were known as {{Transliteration|grc|kardiophylax}} (Greek) or {{Transliteration|hy|apezak}} (Armenian) and were popular with various Bronze Age civilizations, as well as the Central Asian tribes such as the Saka and Yuezhi, and also among the Sasanians. The Kardiophylax was used by the [[Samnites]] before they developed the [[triple-disc cuirass]]. Although, it continued to be used as a Status symbol after it was discontinued from popular use. This armor would go on to be used by [[Salii|Salian]] priests as a form of ritual dress.

Late mirror armour took the form of a mirror [[cuirass]], helmet, [[greave]]s, and [[bracer]]s worn with [[mail (armour)|mail]]. There were two alternative constructions of mirror cuirass:
* with discs – two large round mirrors surrounded by smaller mirror plates, such as the [[Klivanion]].
* without discs – typically having four mirror plates – frontplate, backplate, and two sideplates joined by hinges or laces.

Early types of this armour were known among the [[Celtiberians]],<ref>{{Cite journal |title=War and Society in the Celtiberian World |journal=Journal of Interdisciplinary Celtic Studies |last=Almagro-Gorbea |first=Martin |date=2004-10-26 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/29726494_War_and_Society_in_the_Celtiberian_World |volume=6 |pages=86 |last2=Lorrio |first2=Alberto J.}}</ref> by the Romans, in the [[Middle East]], [[Central Asia]], [[India]], [[Russia]], [[Siberia]] (where it was worn by [[Siberian natives]] before the Russian conquest), [[Mongolia]], [[Indochina]] and [[China]] (including [[Tibet]] too).

Later types of this armour were known in the [[Middle East]], [[Central Asia]], [[India]], and [[Russia]]. The mirror cuirass with discs was popular in [[Turkey]] and [[Russia]], while that without discs was popular in [[Persia]], [[Central Asia]] and [[India]].

In [[India]], there was a popular form of [[brigandine]] with a few mirror plates [[rivet]]ed to it.

According to Bobrov,<ref>[http://www.kyrgyz.ru/?page=197 Леонид Бобров "Защитное вооружение среднеазиатского воина эпохи позднего средневековья" (Leonid Bobrov "Panoply of a Late Medieval Central Asian Warrior")] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213505/http://www.kyrgyz.ru/?page=197 |date=2007-09-27 }}
[http://www.kyrgyz.ru/bbr/bobrov_05.html illustrations of some kinds of mirror armour]</ref> round metal mirrors worn by Mongolian warriors as armour reinforcement are shown in Persian miniatures of 13c. This is verified by archaeological finds in [[Central Asia]] and the [[Far East]]. This kind of armour prevailed in [[Central Asia]] during 15–17c, and could be worn over any armour including [[brigandine]]s, [[lamellar armour]], [[chainmail]] and even [[plated mail]]. In 16c in [[Persia]], mirror plates became much larger and changed their shape to rectangular in order to improve body protection. This improved mirror armour gradually spread during 16–17c to [[Central Asia]] and North [[India]]. Further improvements were made during the 1640s when mirror plates evolved into mirror cuirass, which sometimes had additional mirror plates used as [[pauldron]]s for protection of the shoulder laces. Besides separate mirror plates laced as reinforcement to other armours there were small mirrors that were sewn or riveted to brigandine. Brigandines with such integral reinforcements were very popular at the end of the 15th century, but their use had practically been abandoned by the end of the 17th century.

Many modern army [[ballistic vest]]s resemble the "Chahar-Aine" layout with basic soft anti-fragmentation armour (analogue of chain mail) covering a large area, and two, four or even more bulletproof plates ("mirrors") worn above it, thus combining weight saving and freedom of movement with high level of protection of vital areas.

Ottoman 15th to 16th century mirror armour is commonly referred to as "Krug", while the name for the same type of armour in Russia is {{lang|ru|зерцало}} ({{Transliteration|ru|zertsalo}}), and the modern technical term is {{lang|ru|зерцальный доспех}} ({{Transliteration|ru|zertsal'niy dospekh}}), from the Russian {{lang|ru|зерцальный}} ({{Transliteration|ru|zertsal'niy}}) – "mirror"; and {{langx|ru|доспех}} ({{Transliteration|ru|dospekh}}) – "armour".

{{Cquote|'''Zertsalo''' consisted of a number plates that formed the two halves: front and rear. Each sides consists of: a middle plate called the "krug" ([[rondel (armour)|rondel]]), side plates, upper plates (above the "krug") called "ozherelie" ([[gorget]]) and "obruch" (ring) enveloping the neck; the front side additionally had "naramki" – shoulder strappings, and the back side had – "naplechniki" ([[pauldrons]])<br />
{{lang|ru|'''Зерцало''' состояло из ряда досок, образовавших две половины – переднюю и заднюю. Каждую половину составляли: средняя доска, или круг, боковые дощечки, верхние (над кругом), или ожерелье, и обруч – часть, обхватывающая шею; у передней половины были еще нарамки – плечевые скрепления, а у задней – наплечки}}|source=[[Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary]]}}

==Gallery==
'''Mirror armours:'''
{{gallery
|File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-S-14-13-33, Tibetexpedition, Neujahrsparade, Rta pa.jpg|[[Tibetan armor|Tibetan]] round mirror plate shown worn over [[chainmail|mail]] on the chest, circa 1938.
|File:Antique chainmail armour with mirror.jpg|[[Tibetan armor|Tibetan]] mirror armour; four mirrors ({{Transliteration|bo|[[Melong|me long]] bzhi}}) with the front and one side plate visible and worn over a mail hauberk.
|File:Separ razmi.JPG|Char-aina with octagonal front plate.
|File:Char-Aina IrGIM.jpg|Classic 4-mirror ''Chahār-Āyneh''
|File:Drevnosti RG v3 ill043 - Zercalo Mikh. Feod.jpg|Alternative mirror armour with discs.
|File:Late shar-ayna armour.jpg|Late ''Chahar-Ai-Ne'' consisting of five plates instead of four.
|File:The attendants of the Sumptha Raja, Agra Durbar.jpg|Four Indian warriors wearing char-aina, circa 1873.
}}
'''[[Brigandine]]s reinforced by mirror plates:'''
{{gallery
|File:Chinese guard.JPG|Chinese ''dingjia'' [[brigandine]] reinforced by classic round mirror.
|File:Armor coat Rajasthan01.jpg|Indian [[brigandine]] reinforced by mirror plates.
}}
'''Compare analogues which are not mirror armours, but have the same construction:'''
{{gallery
|File:Guerrero ibero del siglo III a. C (2).jpg|Iberian [[Caetrati|Caetratus]] reenactor of the 3rd Century B.C. in [[Kardiophylax]]
|File:Lauersforter Phalerae Museum Burg Linn.jpg|Roman {{lang|la|[[Phalera (military decoration)|phalerae]]}}
|File:Byzantine klivanium (Κλιβάνιον).jpg|Byzantine [[Klivanion|''klivanium'']] ({{lang|grc-x-medieval|Κλιβάνιον}})
|File:Armure-p1000681.jpg|[[Japanese armour|Japanese]] {{Transliteration|ja|[[Dō (armour)|yukinoshita dō]]}} armour
}}

==See also==
*[[Mail and plate armour]]
*[[Mail (armour)]]
*''[[Melong]]''
* {{annotated link|Toli (shamanism)|Toli}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mirror armour}}
* [http://www.geocities.com/normlaw/page1.html The Silk Road Designs Armoury] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20041109195408/http://www.geocities.com/normlaw/page1.html same site at the internet archive])
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20071105092941/http://www.geocities.com/normlaw/page3.html The Silk Road Designs Armoury : Mirrors and Brassier Plates]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20071105092946/http://www.geocities.com/normlaw/page4.html The Silk Road Designs Armoury : Chahar-Ai-Ne]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012050714/http://www.geocities.com/normlaw/page5.html The Silk Road Designs Armoury : Disc Armour]
* [http://www.xenophon-mil.org/rushistory/medievalarmor/parti.htm Russian medieval arms and armour]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterjr1961/2190258962/in/set-72157602652995786/ Simple Mirror Armour (Tibetan)]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterjr1961/2858713160/in/set-72157602652995786/ Transitional (from round to rectangular) Mirror Armour (Persian)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070717140758/http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/02/hm2_3_0_8_7.html Indian Brigandine with Mirror Plates]



{{Types of armour}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirror Armour}}
[[Category:Asian armour]]
[[Category:Mirrors|Armour]]

Mirror armour - Revision history

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