Montefortino Style Helmet Use in the 1st Cent

[Primvs Pavlvs]

When is the latest this style of helmet can be used for 1st century impressions?

[arklore70]

Connolly in Greece and Rome at War as well as Barker in the Armies and Enemies of Rome, Cowan in Roman Legionary and Simpkins The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan all state the use of the Montefortino style helmet into the 1st Century AD.

That said, I think most of the helmets would have been retired out of military service by the end of Augustus/Octavian's reign. I would think that they would be the exception by 43 AD in the Western Empire due to the Gallic influence, and perhaps only a couple of decades more in the Eastern half of the Empire as newer helms would be circulated and designs implemented.

I base my speculation and opinion on the Gallic influence, and where some of the more serious campaigns at the time were being fought which would require a higher rate of replacement due to damage and battle losses.


Thoughts?
Cheers,
Mike

[Crispvs]

Two things:

Firstly, a Montifortino helmet was found at Cremona and has been assumed to have been deposited as a result of the two battles there in AD69.

Secondly, as it lacks a crest knob and has a rounded appearance, I am not sure the helmet in your picture actually counts as a Montifortino. Even though I has a sloping neck guard, I would be inclined to call it a Coolus type helmet.

Crispvs

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Thanks Paul!

[Crispvs]

Pavlvs,

Sorry,

I probably should have said that the helmet in your picture seems to have most in common with Robinson's Coolus type 'A' which would make it unlikely for the first century AD, except perhaps for Gallic auxiliaries in the first half of the century using older equipment which they had brought with them.

Crispvs

[Marcus Mummius]

Junkelmann shows this kind of helmet in his book and sais it is unlikely this type of helmet would have been in use in the 1st century AD.

Were did you get that picture by the way? From this site? http://www.rudis-kuenstlerwerkstatt.de

regards,

[John M McDermott]

I have this one and I intend to make a Coolus B of it.

[Cornelius Quintus]

Ave Paul,

that Mannheim-type is mostly connected with 1st century BC, but might have been used much, much longer.

I served some years in a voluntary fire brigade in a smal German village. Even in 2004 we were mostly quipped with German world war II style helmets.

The simple reason: professional fire fighter helmets are very expensive and only affordable for a few teams. All others got the old style ones. (Notice that they still look like the old German steel helmets, but are manufactured of light metal or plastics now). There's an interesting effect: First, the fire brigades used the old military helmets. When they were worn off, they ordered new 'old style' ones, to keep uniformity (and save money).

So still in 2006 brand new fire brigade helmets are available, basing on the 1942 model of a helmet, which design was invented 1916, in the first world war, under the rule of the last German Kaiser :wink:

In the meantime, the German Army from the 1950ies to 1990ies had a helmet similar to the WW II US model (and similar to the Mannheim type, if you wear it backside to the front with the visor as a neck guard :wink: ) and now the new US model, somewhat similar to the old German army style :lol: ). By the way: our fire brigades used none of them...

An 'old fashioned' Roman Mannheim type helmet might have served an auxiliary, town guard or rookie in mid 1st century AD or longer, being no 'standard' equipment any more, but of use for low budged units as long as it was sturdy enough to be worn.