Etruscan crested helmet

Etruscan crested helmet

Southern Etruscan soldier helmet, about 800-750 BC

• The helmet weighs approx. 2400 grams
• Hand-hammered from brass plate
• Gauge of plate 16 (approx.  1,5mm)
• Hand-engraved from both side of the bell
• The helmet comes with a textile liner
• made-to-measure, please send us your head circumference

All the examples of this kind of helmet have been found in tombs together with other items of armour, such as broad bronze belts and breastplates, and swords. They obviously belonged to rich warrior chieftains. Often the helmet is placed on a pottery urn containing the cremated remains of the owner, serving both as a lid and as a mark of his identity and status.

The helmet was made from two sheets of bronze hammered sheet, one folded over the other around the edge and riveted together. The long rivets which project at the front and back were functional in the Central European examples and held the two pieces of metal together, but in the proto-Etruscan examples they are merely decorative, though they perhaps helped to deflect blows.

During the centuries when Romans were dominated by their Etruscan neighbours, the Romans imitated them in many respects. While the Etruscans in turn mimicked the Greeks and employed Corinthian-style helmets, they also had their own style of helmet, which resembled a peaked, bronzed bowl. The Romans used both styles.

This helmet can be made to measure after your measurements ‘1a’ to ‘1j’ in this measurement chart.

Please read our instructions, how to determine a helmet size correctly.