What did the bodies of medieval soldiers likely look like?

by ffliverr

In tv and movies, they’re all depicted as super muscular. This is probably not the case, considering they didn’t have whey, know proper diet or have a gym.

BEATLEO9

Though of course a rough cross section of the then population. They would have at least seemed so. Those that 'chose' that life being self selected notably the taller / larger etc. and such as knights, men at arms and archers 'had' systematically trained for years-decades and so would have been significantly muscular (from skeleton remains to the extent almost of deformity) . Also add on armor, cloths etc - which it human nature to enhance to make you appear larger and more threatening.

The other side of this being that every record indicate that dead bodies seem to be shrunken (presumably by the absence of their animation and often odd positioning e.g. huddled). Also probably markedly covered in and smelly from sweat, blood, mud and human excreta. Additionally soon naked - being usually swiftly stripped (together with often multiple and frequently horrific wounds and the effects of scavengers. It common for individuals to be unrecognizable).

Apart from the different cloths etc. Photographs US civil war + battle aftermaths would be remarkably similar.