"Celt-Iberian helmets article" Topic

Doing a Celt-Iberian set at the moment and had run into this so I thought I'd share it…

Source:link

Very attic and the holder looks like its for a crest!?!

Mike

P.S. That helmet looks like its from and area that had strong mediteranean trade influence. Its gives me a slight Greek impression What a morph!

I was gonna say Chalcidian, but you could call it either, really. It's a beautiful piece of work. I wonder how long those sheet metal wings lasted in action. They look removable – maybe they took them off for actually fighting?

Doug

Looks like the same helmet?

This looks like two helmets, very similar though…

Mike

What would have covered the "wing" type racks?
regards
Russ Dunaway

I don't think anything, Russ. But I can imagine a cool looking short crest attached to the centre. The helmet on the left looks like it could hold feathers as the tubes look a little larger.

Mike

Great looking helmets, Mike, thanks for posting!

Simon

Now where are Allens comments, thanks Simon!

RelliK,
Is that an actual helmet or a repro? It looks like feathers or something could attach to or cover the upright bars creating the Gallic "winged helmet" that is supposedly a myth?
Regards
russ Dunaway

Sorry -- just read the link-- so indeed they are real treasures.
Still have the question about the upright bars though?

regards
Russ Dunaway

Looks like the sheet metal could give the look of imitation feathers at a distance, although I can't make out the tips to see how they look at the ends.

Look at the little ring above the nose on that helmet, it looks like it was used to fasten and balance a crest at the front.

Thoughts?

Mike

I see all kinds of possibilities for attachements, etc --?? but the pictures just are not clear enough -- perhaps a feather or some other devise from the piece on the top of the helmet also? I still think the "wings" look as they should be covered by something? Either way -- those are some well preserved relics!
Russ Dunaway

I was looking at those "wings" and I can also see the wearer tying ribbons to the center sections, a numbers of ribbons, that would "float" back in any sort of a breeze.

I think it's very cool looking, especially since I haven't seen anything like that before.

More:

Ah yes! much clearer now…

Mike

P.S. Ill have a sculpt in the morning…

For such an nice elaborate helmet it seems odd that there would just be those ugly things sticking up? It seems to me they are some type of "frame" to put something on or slide something over -- good thought that it could be something to attach some type of "streamers" from -- or perhaps an actual set of bird wings that slid over like a sock?
Regards
Russ Dunaway

Those 'wings' are pretty interesting. They have the look of a paperclip or barrette. I agree, they appear as if they're meant to be some sort of support or armature for attaching something else to the helmet. That serrated inner element is quite the curiosity.

My thoughts exactly. A support or frame for something else. Thus my comments about ribbons, or perhaps some fine thin cloth streamers or shape.

But definitely a support of some sort.

They are thin sheet metal, probably only good for supporting themselves. The rod in the middle holds a crest likely tied to the ring in the front. I've never heard of ribbons before, can't recall.

Mike

PS (Perhaps my vision is impaired from my experience as a sheet metal worker, having worked in copper and bronze. )

Now look at the tubular base/mount that supports those wings. There's only 2 rivets and the base has a small foot print on the side of that helmet. Looks to me that it's only meant to hold the weight of those wings not much more. Maybe a trail of ribbon or horse hair from the crest.

If the metal in the wings was polished, I should think it would look rather impressive wwith the strong Spanish sun reflecting off it. Perhaps the thin strips might also move around in the wind or with motion, which might give a good effect.

Simon

Very nicely done!

Doug

Maybe those thin sheets would wistle or hum when the wearer was riding fast in the wind. I seem to remember someone saying that those feather apparati that the Polish cavalry wore in later times created a frightening sound as they charged.
Daniel

Mike, figures look nice!!!!!!!! Mike Adams

Very nice… so on the original helmet, what are the 'wings' made out of?

Probably an alloy of copper and tin…

link

Not really Attic, nearer Chalcidian??

bird wings horse hair, both could be attached to it easily.

cheers
Matt