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Is it remotely possible that the "apis skinns", whatever their composition, were intended to be made into wings, rather than undergarments (since "hose" is apparently mentioned separately)? Very tentatively, Margaret Andrzej Dabrowska wrote : A quick look into the "Lexikon der christlichen Ikonographie" (s.v. Engel) has taught me the following: Angels were not made in birds' likeness; they are never depicted as bird-like, but more and more as humans of the time of depiction. The first flying angel is noticed in the 4th c., through the centuries two main species show up: the winged (including flying heads) and the wingless. Although there is a picture of an angel as a winged athlete, as a rule you don't see much of their uncovered body except their extremities. Why should their undergarment be of much sophistication, then? > or "apis skinns" simply means something else. Maybe a sort of textile with a special texture, they use to be called phantasy-names like fustian or the like? Dr Margaret Mary Raftery English Department, U.O.F.S., P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa. + 27 51 4012336 / 2275