Ancient helmets, as with modern types, are a piece of armor made of metal or metal alloy and especially designed to protect the head and neck from injury in battle. Shield and helmets of ancient Greek are generally considered the grandfather of Roman helmets which led to our modern helmets.

Some types of Greek helmets include the Corinthian, the Illyrian, the Chalcidian, the Pilos, the Petasus, the Beotian, and the Thracian. As these suggest, they were coined at differing periods by different parts of Greek culture or enemies for a specific necessity. Why don’t we take a closer look into these ancient Greek helmets?

Greek Helmets: Types Of Metals Used

Ancient Greek war helmets were first made from bronze. However, a Greek bronze helmet for battle proved to be heavy and unwieldy. Furthermore it was hard to work with at the time and afforded only basic designs. Then by about the 8th century Greek helmets gained a small improvement by being handcrafted for each individual. Thus comfort and durability were soon joined to make the Greek battle helmet an important piece of the wearer’s suit of armor.

Later designs for a Greek helmet were made from successful experimentation with metal alloys and working with carbide steel. These metals were easier to work with, could be made lighter weight, and afforded craftsmen more options in design.

Greek Helmets: Styles And Fashions

Greek Helmets went through many design overhauls thought the centuries as some designers left the wearers deaf while others left him half blind. Below is a brief list of each style and its basic conception.

1.Corinthian: An ancient Greek helmet 8th century, custom made and skill fully designed from a single piece of bronze, this helmet included a crest and could be pushed back out of the user’s way when not in use.
2.Illyrian: From the 7th century this helmet was made by fusing two pieces of metal together at the crown and covering the seam with a crest and had two ridges on either side of the seam to protect it.
3.Chalcidian: This was a basic Corinthian helmet with a slight overhaul, the cheek guards were more rounded and openings for the soldier’s ears were formed so he could hear. The temple if the helmet was often decorated with lines and embossed cheek relief.
4.Pilos: This took its inspiration Roman civilian hats and was often cloth covered metal so as to avoid detection.
5.Petasus: This was another hat given a metal body. Originally used to keep out the sun for horseman, it found its way into the battle field for Italian infantry.
6.Beotian: This style provided great visibility and was excellent on the battle field.
7.Thracian: This was anther Greek battle helmet based on a hat, but this one boasted of a more elaborate design with a high peak often resembling a “cone head” design. It too was cloth covered and was more of a show piece by the end of the Roman era.

These styles are still available today reproduced by specialty stores who recreate Greek helmets. Popular websites include Ancient-Weapons.com and Hellenic-Art.com. Online stores offer discounts but for the real savings look for free shipping. Then and now, Greek Helmets are beautiful works of art!