Illyrian type helmet explained
The Illyrian type helmet (or Greco-Illyrian type helmet) is a style of bronze helmet, which in its later variations covered the entire head and neck, and was open-faced in all of its forms.[1] It originated in Peloponnese, ancient Greece, and was developed during the 8th and 7th centuries BC (700–640 BC).[1] [2] [3] Accurate representations on Corinthian vases are sufficient to indicate that the Illyrian type helmet was developed before 600 BC.[4] The helmet is named today as Illyrian type for convenience due to many initial archaeological discoveries coming from the region of Illyria.[1] [5]
Archaeology
According to archaeological evidence, the Illyrian type helmet evolved from the Kegelhelm (or Kegel type) of the Archaic Period found in Argos.[1] The earliest Illyrian type helmets were developed in a workshop located in the northwestern Peloponnese (possibly Olympia), although the first Type II Illyrian helmets were created in Corinthian workshops.[2] The first Type III helmets were created in workshops situated somewhere on the Illyrian coast of the Adriatic. The Illyrian type helmet did not obstruct the wearer's critical senses of vision though the first two varieties hampered hearing. There were four types of these helmets and all were open faced:
- Type I (c. 700–640 BC) left the neck unprotected and hampered hearing.
- Type II (c. 600 BC) offered neck protection and again hampered hearing.
- Type III (c. 550 BC) offered neck protection and allowed better hearing.
- Type IV (c. 500 BC) was similar to Type III but hearing was not impaired at all.
The Illyrian type helmet was used by the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, Scythians,[6] and became popular with the Illyrians who later adopted it.[7] A variety of the helm had also spread to Italy based on its appearance on ivory reliefs and on a silver bowl at the "Bernardini" tomb at Praeneste.[4] The helmet became obsolete in most parts of Greece in the early 5th century BC. Its use in Illyria had ended by the 4th century BC.[8]
References
Sources
- Book: Bardunias. Paul M.. Ray. Fred Eugene. Hoplites at War: A Comprehensive Analysis of Heavy Infantry Combat in the Greek World, 750–100 BCE. 2016. Jefferson, NC. McFarland & Company, Inc.. 978-1-47666-602-0.
- Barnett . Charles . 2014 . Alcoholic Beverages and Resistance to Roman Imperialism in Dalmatia . Croatian Studies Review . en . 10 . 1 . 13–34 . 1440-0448.
- Blečić . Martina . 2007 . Status, symbols, sacrifices, offerings: The diverse meanings of Illyrian helmets . Journal of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb . en . 40 . 1 . 73–116 . 0350-7165.
- Book: Connolly, Peter . Peter Connolly . Greece and Rome at War. London. Greenhill Books. 1998. 1-85367-303-X.
- Book: Cernenko. E. V.. McBride. Angus. Gorelik. M. V.. Scythians 700–300 B.C. London. Osprey Publishing. 1983. 0-85045-478-6.
- Book: Pearce. Mark. Tosi. Maurizio. Moravetti. Alberto. Milliken. Sarah. Vidale. Massimo. Papers from the EAA Third Annual Meeting at Ravenna 1997: Pre- and Protohistory. Oxford. Archaeopress. 1998. 0-86054-894-5.
- Book: Richardson, Emeline Hill . Emeline Hill Richardson . Etruscan Votive Bronzes: Geometric, Orientalizing, Archaic, Volume 1. Mainz am Rhein. Verlag Philipp von Zabern. 1983. 3-8053-0546-X.
- Book: Sekunda, Nick . Nicholas Sekunda . The Spartan Army. Oxford. Osprey Publishing. 1998. 1-85532-659-0 . Elite Series.
- Book: Snodgrass, Anthony M. . Anthony Snodgrass . Arms and Armor of the Greeks. Baltimore, MD. Johns Hopkins University Press. 1999. 1967. 0-8018-6073-3.
- Book: Snodgrass, Anthony M. . Anthony Snodgrass . Early Greek Armour and Weapons: From the End of the Bronze Age to 600 B.C. Edinburgh. University of Edinburgh. 1964.
- Book: Treister, Mikhail Yu. The Role of Metals in Ancient Greek History. Leiden. E. J. Brill. 1996. 90-04-10473-9.
- Vasić . Rastko . 2010 . Reflecting on Illyrian helmets . Starinar . en . 60 . 37–55 . 10.2298/sta1060037v. free .
- Book: Wilkes, John J.. The Illyrians. Oxford. Blackwell Publishing Limited. 1995. 0-631-19807-5.
Notes and References
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"is the so - called ' Illyrian ' helmet, in fact a purely Greek type which perhaps originated somewhere in the Peloponnese in the earlier seventh century" : "Figure D2, based on a Lakonian warrior statuette from Dodona, wears a helmet of the Illyrian type, so-named because many early finds came from Illyria. However, it is now clear that it was also extremely popular in the Peloponnese, which is the most probable area of origin."
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