Breastplate

A breastplate is a device worn over the torso to protect it from injury, as an item of religious significance, or as an item of status. A breastplate is sometimes worn by mythological beings as a distinctive item of clothing.

Armour
In medieval weaponry, the breastplate is the front portion of plate armour covering the torso. It has been a military mainstay since ancient times and were usually made of leather, bronze or iron in antiquity. By around 1000AD solid plates had fallen out of use in Europe and knights of the period were wearing chain mail in the form of a Hauberk over a padded tunic. Plates protecting the torso reappeared during the 13th century in the form of the Cuirass or alternatively as plates directly attached to a knightly garment known as the surcoat. Around 1300 this developed into the Coat of Plates which continued in use for about a century. True breastplates reappear in Europe in 1340 first composed of wrought iron but latter steel. They were between about 1mm and 2.5mm thick. In order to prevent the wearer from bring cut by their own armour the design featured turned edges which also added strength. In some cases further strength was added by a ridge running down through he center of the plate. These early Breastplates only covered the upper torso with the lower torso not being protected by plate until the development of the Fauld around 1400. Around 1450 the Breastplate had expanded to cover the entire torso and could consist of one or two plates.

Bullet-proof vests are the modern descendant of the Breastplate.

Biblical
A "breastplate" or "breastpiece" was among the clothes of the Jewish High Priest. In the Bible, the word Breastplate is used figuratively to describe protecting oneself from unrighteousness (cf,, , etc.).

Classical mythology
Both Zeus and Athena are sometimes depicted as wearing a goatskin shield or breastplate called an Aegis. At the center of Athena's shield was the head of Medusa.

Native American use
The hair-pipe breastplates of 19th-century Plains Indians were made from the West Indian conch, brought to New York docks as ballast and then traded to native Americans of the upper Missouri River. Their popularity spread rapidly after their invention by the Comanche in 1854. They were too fragile and expensive to be considered armour, and were instead a symbol of wealth during the economic depression among Plains Indians after the buffalo were almost exterminated.