H.R.Robinson Helmet Typology

[Spurius Papirius Cursor]

Hello All

I enter this thread with some nervousness as I know nothing about the area under discussion.

However, it's an important issue for all sorts of reasons and I'd love to contribute. I don't know whether the following will add to or detract from serious discussion, but I hope it may add.

What about a clear typology like Dragendorff´s for terra sigillata:
[url:3e8qri8x]http://www.potsherd.uklinux.net/atlas/types/sigillata/index.php?more=DR37[/url]

I followed caiustarquitius' link and found it thought-provoking. Those who have already inspected the link know it is styled "Database of Terra sigillata forms", where the whole gallery can be displayed according to Typology, Class, Form or Date of introduction. I'd invite readers to have a play with caiustarquitius' link, then inspect the links I'll give below, which I found on the "Hetman Militaria, Rome, Helmets" page ([url:3e8qri8x]http://www.hetmanmilitaria.com/en/index.php?id=20[/url]). I was directed there from another RAT thread in my (wise or otherwise) quest for knowledge of the "Roman Attic Helmet".

I was struck by the similarities between the Hetman diagrams and the various displays of the Potsherd Atlas' Terra Sigillata Database and I think they might have a use in the process of creating the tool you want, although not as the tool itself. See Caratacus' point:

The Dragendorf 'classification' is entirely visual and depends on simple shape comparison. It is also not exhaustive, as there are 'supplementary' classifications due to Curle, Ritterling, Webster, Ludovici, etc for forms that Dragendorff didn't know about! In short, 'samian' pottery is a far simpler proposition than what we are faced with here for helmets.

In addition to (certainly not replacing) the existing R.A. Helmet Database, a database in the Potsherd Atlas / Hetman diagrams form might (I stress "might" - I've no prior experience to assert "will") be a useful mapping device.

As to the ultimate "Catalogue Label" assigned to each item I have no useful input but I do have some observations. It does seem less helpful to assign labels to helmets according to their presumed user. Form and decoration, however, seem fairly sensible definers whether of pottery or helmets. Both of these respond to function and taste; and functions and tastes sit well on timelines. Metals and manufacturing methods are going to vary with date as well as location of both materials and producers. And vary also, I suspect, with attitudes (i.e. traditional/progressive) toward design and materials.

Anyhow, the links to the Hetman diagrams:

(1) [url:3e8qri8x]http://www.hetmanmilitaria.com/images/produkty/id49_1_b.jpg[/url]
(2) [url:3e8qri8x]http://www.hetmanmilitaria.com/images/produkty/id50_1_b.jpg[/url]; and
(3) A bit of a "whoopsie" with the direction of the dates: [url:3e8qri8x]http://www.hetmanmilitaria.com/images/produkty/id51_1_b.jpg[/url].

Hope this adds something.

Cheers and good fortune! It's a worthy project here.

Howard / SPC