Faramir's armour...... vs Boromir's

[Neurion]

What do you suppose might be the reason that Faramir posseses a much more ornate, custom-made suit of armour than his older and more honoured brother? Faramir's armour is similar to the common soldiers' but finer, and with various embellishments that are meant to be personal heraldric symbols, such as the twin ravens on the greaves and vambraces. These can also be seen in the hilt of his sword.

On the other hand, Boromir's harness consists of a standard soldier's cuirass and arm defenses, but minus the gorget, and a maille skirt, with no helmet or other elements of armour.

[Neurion]

Twenty views, and no responses?

[The Perky Ent]

Cause Boromir has the horn

[Mithalwen]

Boromir didn't actually travel in uniform though did he? And would not have sought battle journeying alone so he is unlikely to have wanted full armour. Of course in the book he has no armour and is dressed for riding. If he had armour I guess he would have discarded it when he lost his horse. I doubt he would have taken precious and ceremonial armour on such a journey, or anything else that woud draw attention to a lone traveller. As a backpacker, it is a principle that holds true now - don't take anything you can't bear to lose or that will make you a conspicuous and a target for thieves.....

[Neurion]

Those are good points, but I meant his armour in the Osgiliath scene.

[Beanamir of Gondor]

... Perhaps Boromir's battle armour was less fancy because it was worn from so much battle and experience, and because he lost half of the cool accoutrements from so much usage, eh?
Besides, the Perky Ent is right. Who needs sweet armour when you've got the horn of Gondor? =D

Hi everyone, I am new here, will post an intro in a moment. Though this may not be directly related to the topic, I am wondering what thickness Boromir's armor was:

robe - probably not

light leather armor

medium chain armor

heavy plate mail

Any help would be appreciated; thanks,
Steve

[Captain Grishnahk]

The only reason i can come up with is that Boromir's armor was disigned to travel. Perhaps this is his traveleing armor...? If you see in a TTT EV flashback when he is still in Gondor. He his heavily clad in silver armor.

Hope that helps...

-Cap.

[Snowdog]

I know I'm late and its all been said but tough.

On this difference in the brothers' armor...



Faramir, and that of his command which were the Rangers of Ithilien were prepared to move quickly and quietly in the woods of Ithilien setting anbushes and such and doing their best at not being seen or heard.

Boromir on the other hand commanded the garrison of Osgoliath and so he and his men had the full battle armor that would come in handy in the direct close-in fighting.

Later, when Faramir and his men was summoned to Osgoliath as emergency reinforcements for the Osgoliath garrison, they wouldn't take the time to get 'suited up' in their armor (which Faramir later did for his suicide ride from Minas Tirith).

Also, when Boromir went to Rivendell, he was dressed so:



More suited for travel, but still quite functional.

And then you have their own personal preferences of adornment.

[calandil]

he cannot walk around in the woods wearing nice shiny armor

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by calandil

he cannot walk around in the woods wearing nice shiny armor

LOL the simplest responses are always the funniest.

And indeed this is so. That, and given the fact we never have a description of Boromir's actual armour at Gondor, it's safe to say PJ just took what he thought Gondorian armour to look like and put it on Boromir in the Osgiliath scene. There's no real proof to why he made the suits of armour different.