Italic A Helmet

[Magnus]

Just like tiny stones and rocks float.

[caiusbeerquitius]

And chocolate.

[Paullus Scipio]

there is a report of 1767/8 describing the find of two helmets and some other military equipment that matches the items in the museum which he did get to see (at least, the photos with the article are credited to him)?

....sounds plausible enough, and he deserves a 'Laus' for digging so thoroughly in old documentation! ...... in which case no mystery then......The helmets likely belonged to 'Arena Guards'....security for the Gladiators in barracks, escorts to take them to the arena, crowd control etc; men who were probably ex-soldiers and the equipment may well represent 'older' style military gear (if soldiers, having paid for their kit kept it rather than sold it on retirement....one presumes most kept theirs, given the frequency with which veterans are 'recalled' by the thousand to the colours, with nary a mention of equipping them.....).Alternately, if it was supplied by the 'Boss' (possible because of the identical nature, but perhaps less likely than soldiers own gear), the 'style' of helmet may not be 'regulation' Roman Army at all..... though there again, there is the similar Italic 'B' found in a military context, again favouring the 'old soldier's gear' hypothesis......

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Probably the old gear.....Cheap bastard would probably not want to dig into his profits just ot equip his guards.... :roll:

[Paullus Scipio]

Yup!...especially if "he" was anything like the Peter Ustinov character in Spartacus........ D lol:

[Quintus Galerius]

I have had this helmet in my hands 2 days ago...have you got something to ask me?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Yes, any photos/

Are they onepiece?

Are they iron or bronze?

D

[Quintus Galerius]

there are two pieces riveted, I'll put on some photos







Maybe bronze, you can look and see the green sign on it...are you sure that this is a roman helmet? it was in the Italic section, with a lot of Montefortino and Sud-italici Calcidesi...

[Quintus Galerius]

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Excellent pictures. Interesting details. Any more of the crest mount?

[Quintus Galerius]

yup

[Matthew Amt]

Oh. My. God. It's got a riveted-on neckguard!! Wild. Pulled out Robinson, and yes, you can actually see the seam in his photo, if you look. Thank you, Francesco! Wonderful photos and information.

Oh, but let me guess--Does Ortisi consider them "way too thin" because they're only about a millimeter thick? Same old song...

Definitely bronze or brass (copper alloy!), and yeah, I'd have to say they're not fakes. Very Roman details in the crest fittings and such. Cool stuff, thanks again!

Matthew

[Quintus Galerius]

It's a light model, I took etiam some Montefortini and they are heavier...

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Thanks for the pictures Francesco.

Looks as though there was a brow band of somesort?

I wonder if this was an organic padding of some kind, lending some
credence to the oft mentioned double helmet theory?

[arklore70]

First off, these photos are spectacular.

Do we know roughly what dates this helmet might have been in service?

Am I making a big leap to think that a helmet here with such a small neck guard that it might have also, potentially, been a Cavalry helmet as well? Just a thought.

Thoughts?

:?: