Helmets of Ancient Italy

Assembled by Dan Diffendale

The typology of ancient military equipment is vexing and problematic. Equipment was not then stamped out in assembly lines, but made by hand. It is not certain to what degree there was any standardization as we understand it, even under the Roman Empire. Survival of equipment is haphazard: a piece here, a piece there, much of it arriving on the scene without provenance. Evolution of types is open to wide interpretation. All these factors contribute to the difficulty. In only one case are the typology and terminology more or less consistent: the "Corinthian" type helmet. In fact, this is the only type that is called by its probable ancient name (q.v. Herodotus 4.180.3). This page is provided as-is, terminology subject to change and refinement (and open to suggestions). Clicking on any of the thumbnail images will open a new window with the full-size image.

Limited Bibliography:
P. Connolly, Greece and Rome at War (Greenhill 1998).
P. Dintsis, Hellenistische Helme (Bretschnieder 1986).

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