11-08-2002, 01:53 PM
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I know the ones you mean. Their provenance is stated to be Herculaneum and they are [or were] displayed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples along with the gladiatorial stuff from Pompeii. Opinions differ as to whether they were meant to be actually worn or not. When I saw them for real I thought they looked truly vile, but some think that with a crest attached they look OK. There is confusion about the size of them. Junkelmann states that they measure 30 or so cm from front to back, which would make them too big to be worn, but others say that this measurement includes the neck guard. I would have to go to Naples again and look for myself or find a better catalogue description of them before I would be convinced. I do recall that they "looked" very oversized though. They may or may not indeed be "transitional" gladiatorial helmets. Your guess is as good as anyone else's in this case. There is certainly good evidence for similar such open faced helmets being worn by gladiators at the turn of the first century BC and earlier.<br>
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Susan <p></p><i></i>
I know the ones you mean. Their provenance is stated to be Herculaneum and they are [or were] displayed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples along with the gladiatorial stuff from Pompeii. Opinions differ as to whether they were meant to be actually worn or not. When I saw them for real I thought they looked truly vile, but some think that with a crest attached they look OK. There is confusion about the size of them. Junkelmann states that they measure 30 or so cm from front to back, which would make them too big to be worn, but others say that this measurement includes the neck guard. I would have to go to Naples again and look for myself or find a better catalogue description of them before I would be convinced. I do recall that they "looked" very oversized though. They may or may not indeed be "transitional" gladiatorial helmets. Your guess is as good as anyone else's in this case. There is certainly good evidence for similar such open faced helmets being worn by gladiators at the turn of the first century BC and earlier.<br>
<br>
Susan <p></p><i></i>
