Roman Use of the Attic Helmet

[Marcus Mummius]

What about helmets like these two:
http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEqui ... uisborough
http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEqui ... tml#Weiler

They look very like "Attic" helmets, as well as the helmets depicted on the reliefs.

Yes, the first link is the helmet Matthew mentioned - the Thielenhofen cavalry helmet. Remember seeing these in Gladiator ? I have my own picture of it below (notice the etching on the browguard) :



I wish I could find the old thread that shows a modern repro of this helmet. It was silver and gold in color with a feathered crest if I'm not mistaken. I was tempted to buy it but I think it was WAY out of my price range :roll:

~Theo

If my memory serves me correct this helmet has inscriptions of several soldiers. It appears that it was worn by regular cavalry soldiers in the field, not by officers.

Vale,

[tlclark]

I have two photos from the Column of Marcus Aurelius that show possible depictions of Praetorian rankers. If I'm right then that would help explain why they're carrying old-fashioned Republican scuta.

Marcus Column 1, Marcus Column 2

People keep talking about depictions of Praetorians wearing Attic helmets, but all I've seen is the Louvre relief which shows several OFFICERS wearing Attic helmets. (Hmm, though I'd have to look again to be sure one of the rear-rankers might possibly be more grunt-like!)

~Theo

Small correction. Those are from the column base of Antoninus pius.

More importantly theo's right. Those have to be attic helmets and are probably intentionally archaicizing for a reason.

[Hugh Fuller]

What about helmets like these two:
http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEqui ... uisborough
http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEqui ... tml#Weiler

They look very like "Attic" helmets, as well as the helmets depicted on the reliefs.

Yes, the first link is the helmet Matthew mentioned - the Thielenhofen cavalry helmet. Remember seeing these in Gladiator ? I have my own picture of it below (notice the etching on the browguard) :



I wish I could find the old thread that shows a modern repro of this helmet. It was silver and gold in color with a feathered crest if I'm not mistaken. I was tempted to buy it but I think it was WAY out of my price range :roll:

~Theo

Ask and you shall receive, except that my office computer will not bring up photobucket so I had to go to the Armamentaria site to get it. It is a replica by Daniyal Steelcrafts in India.
http://www.armamentaria.com/store/index ... ucts_id=99

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

There was an italian site that did a repro of this helmet and others. My link to it doesn't work any more!

Archeos Roman Armour, I think

[Hugh Fuller]

Hey, I found your site and the helmet. They only want 2,600 EUROs for it(!) and it does not seem to have any cheek pieces, at least from the pictures.
http://www.armatureromane.com/elmi_artig.htm#2

And here are two more similar ones at somewhat lower prices'
http://www.armatureromane.com/elmi_artig2.htm#1

They are some sort of striking items!!

[Marcus Mummius]

Thanks for posting the link to that site again, Hugh. I remember looking at the pieces they sell in the past. Always good for a laugh :lol:

I wonder if they sell any of these things

Some of the armour pieces would qualify for the 'most inacurate armour ever' contest.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

That is the site. And if you go to the next page, you will see a version with cheekpieces.

I was going to order from them but then found other sites. They do have some good gear tho!

[Nectanebo]

Going back to those two "attic-style" helmets, while they are decribed as cavalry helmets, I seem to remember that there were other helmets that were originally described the same way which are now considered to have been used by both infantry and cavalry.

And anyway what to stop a Praetorian officer wearing one of these in a parade if he wants to...

[Hugh Fuller]

Going back to those two "attic-style" helmets, while they are described as cavalry helmets, I seem to remember that there were other helmets that were originally described the same way which are now considered to have been used by both infantry and cavalry.

And anyway what to stop a Praetorian officer wearing one of these in a parade if he wants to...

Bolding mine, for emphasis.

Why, he'd be out of uniform! :wink: :wink: D

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Ave Hugh,

Firstly, WELCOME aboard!

I am of the opinion that the attic style helmet did exist for the follow reasons… only about 200 or so Roman helmets have been found… out of what, millions of soldiers who wore helmets? The fact that the far more rare, officer’s attic style helmet has not been found is not proof they did not exist. There is a saying… “absence of evidence is not evidence of absenceâ€

[sleighr]

No attic helmets in the Roman army, huh? Check this out,
sorry no links to this site due to the owner getting angry when some of his items accuracy were questioned, asked that no links to his site be posted on RAT

Also your posts need your name in the signature block

edited by moderator C Fabius

[Tarbicus]

No attic helmets in the Roman army, huh? Check this out, then...edited by moderator C Fabius.

*( see above for edit resason)
Yes. No found attic helmets from the Roman army still, until full provenance is published. I'd also like to see the actual reports of any analyses done.

[Paullus Scipio]

Jim wrote:-

Yes. No found attic helmets from the Roman army still, until full provenance is published. I'd also like to see the actual reports of any analyses done.

I think I preferred your original comment.... :wink: I don't think I've seen so much patently 'un-provenanted' material on one site before!

As we lawyers say " Caveat Emptor !!" :roll: :roll:

[MARCvSVIBIvSMAvRINvS]

Well.... what about this then.........

Roman officers, especially the high ranking ones were almost always travelling by HORSE......

ergo............

Cavalry Helmets, especially the most elaborate ones could have been in the posession of high ranking officers......... at least a few.....

M.VIB.M.

[arklore70]

Has any one tried using a Attic style helmet either in mock combat or on horseback to see how functional it is?

I do not necessarily mean taking a gladius or spear to it and cracking away at it but, more along the line of wearing it while on horseback cantering/galloping around and in dismounted mock combat to see how it wears.

The testings might shed some light whether it was a parade helmet or truly a functional combat helmet.

I would think that a attic helmet would cost many times that of a regular helmet, and if covered in precious metals like gold and silver I am sure were stripped and broken down for their metals and sold. That and the fact that there were far less officers in the military might account for why we have not seen any yet on digs and finds.

Thoughts?..

V/r
Mike