Roman Helmet Information

Similar to Medieval Helms or Helmets, the Roman Helmet spans quite a long time in history. With the many changes over the years, the Roman helmet can be classified into several types. In this section we have a brief description of the Roman Helmet.

The earliest group of Roman helmets were the Montefortino helmets, named after the first major find site. These types of Roman helmets were worn by the Republican consular armies. The helmets dated from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD. Made from brass, domed shape, the Montefortino helms had a small extension at the back as a neck guard. They normally had a plume holder on the top of the helmet.

The next  group of Roman helmets, the Coolus helmets, were based on a Gallic form of helmet made in the Coolus district of Marne. This group of Roman helmets covered the period from the 3rd century BC to around 79AD. These simple Roman helms consisted of a hemispherical bowl made from bronze and had a reinforcing peak that ran horizontally across the brow and had a larger extension in the back as a neck guard. Many of the Roman Coolus helmets had a simple top spike as a plume or crest holder.

The third group of Roman helmets was the (Imperial Gallic) Late 1st century BC - Early 2nd century AD. These Roman helmets were based on the type of helmet used by the Gaul's. They were more decorated than earlier Roman Helmets and had a distinctive embossed set of eyebrows. They also had a re-enforced peak with a ridged extension at the back as a neck-guard. The helmets were most probably made by Gallic smiths and so retained the original influence in construction and design. The Roman Imperial Gallic Helmets were in use from the late 1st century BC through to the early 2nd century AD. Most Gallic helmets were made of iron with brass decorations including small circular bosses on the helmet and the cheek pieces. The crest holders consisted of a right-angled foot that slid into a tube on the crown of the helm.

The final major group of Roman Helmets, were the Imperial Italic Helmets, Late 1st BC - Early 3rd century AD. Similar in shape to the Imperial Gallic but due to the simplicity of the construction technique and the lack of decorations these Roman Helmets were classified by Russell Robinson as being made by Italian smiths and were probably based on Greco-Etruscan and Italian helmets of the Republican period. Several types of these Roman Italic Helmets used twist on crests that were held in a T shaped holder. These types of twist on crests can be seen on our Imperial Italic D Helmets. The earliest known versions of these helmets have been claimed to have been found in Herculanium Italy near Mt. Vesuvius, and as such may have been used by the Urban Cohorts or the Praetorians.

Roman Auxiliaries formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army and almost all the Roman army's cavalry and more specialized troops were Auxiliaries. Like their legionary counterparts, auxiliary recruits were mostly volunteers. Our Roman Auxiliary Helmets are historically accurate and well suited to either Roman Re-enactment use or museum quality displays. Most of our Roman Auxiliary Helmets are approved by Mr. Dan Peterson one of the leading authorities on Roman Period Re-enactments.

Our Roman Helmets section contains functional and wearable Roman Period helmets for collectors and re-enactors. Most of the replica helmets are made from brass and steel and are designed to fit the needs of Roman Re-enactment groups.

We offer the finest production Roman Helmets, Gladiator Helmets and Greek Helmets on the market. In addition we have available, Roman and Greek Plumes / Crests that are designed to be used along with our Brass Roman Plume Holders for our (AH) Greek and Roman Helmets.
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