Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ocrea

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

OC'REA (κνημίς). A greave or leggin; that is, a piece of defensive armour which covered the shin bone from the ankle to a little above the knee (Varro, L. L. v. 116.), being fastened by straps and buckles at the back of the leg, which part was left uncovered. It was made of various metals, tin or bronze, modelled to the form and size of the person's leg by whom it was worn, and often highly ornamented by artistic designs embossed or chased upon it. The illustration (Ocrea/1.1) exhibits a pair of original bronze greaves, from Pompeii, represented in three-quarter front and in profile; the buckles by which they were fastened on the legs are seen at the sides, and a number of small holes all round the edges, by which the linings were fastened into them. The originals are entirely covered with ornamental chasing over the surfaces left plain in our engraving, on account of the small scale on which the drawing is made.

2. A hunter's leggin or boot; poetically for PERO; which see. Virg. Moret. 121.

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  Ocrea/1.1