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Lot Essay
This Pilos helmet captures the elegant simplicity of the type coupled with the artful craftsmanship of bronze-smithing in the later period of Greek helmet manufacturing.
The simplest of the Greek bronze helmets, the Pilos type is comprised of a conical dome with a recessed band along the lower edge. The form most likely mirrors a felt or animal-skin cap worn by herdsmen and was in use from the late 6th century through the end of the Hellenistic period. Its popularity grew as a result of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.), when the Greek soldiers were looking for more versatile armor, a reaction to the changes in battle tactics. No longer were battles primarily fought in phalanx formation by hoplites, who relied on heavier, more protective armor; now, the navy, cavalry and foot-soldiers favored more versatile armor to better defend themselves. As R. Hixenbaugh explains “This again attests to the changed dynamic of the battlefield in the Hellenistic period, when a soldier’s need to see and hear was a greater necessity than that of the early Greek hoplite, who simply marched forward in a tight phalanx, wearing a Corinthian helmet, against a nearly identical opponent” (pp. 98 and 143 in Ancient Greek Helmets).
The beautiful repoussé confronting rams on the crown of this helmet indicate the elevated status of the warrior who wore it. Helmets of this period “reflected both [the warrior’s] role in the army and his position in society. Finely made helmets belonged to the princes of the Hellenistic aristocracies, while rudimentary ones were owned by foot soldiers of the armies they employed” (op. cit., p. 127). One can only imagine that the wearer of this helmet, which originally had large sheet bronze horns emerging from each side, an elaborate crest at the top, and possible hinged cheek-guards, must have had an intimidating appearance in battle. For a Pilos helmet preserving its horns and crest attachment, see no. H253 in op. cit.; for a group with a repoussé gorgoneion on the crown, found in South Italy from a Hellenistic period workshop, see nos. H218, H232, H258, H262-267 and H273 in op. cit.
The simplest of the Greek bronze helmets, the Pilos type is comprised of a conical dome with a recessed band along the lower edge. The form most likely mirrors a felt or animal-skin cap worn by herdsmen and was in use from the late 6th century through the end of the Hellenistic period. Its popularity grew as a result of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.), when the Greek soldiers were looking for more versatile armor, a reaction to the changes in battle tactics. No longer were battles primarily fought in phalanx formation by hoplites, who relied on heavier, more protective armor; now, the navy, cavalry and foot-soldiers favored more versatile armor to better defend themselves. As R. Hixenbaugh explains “This again attests to the changed dynamic of the battlefield in the Hellenistic period, when a soldier’s need to see and hear was a greater necessity than that of the early Greek hoplite, who simply marched forward in a tight phalanx, wearing a Corinthian helmet, against a nearly identical opponent” (pp. 98 and 143 in Ancient Greek Helmets).
The beautiful repoussé confronting rams on the crown of this helmet indicate the elevated status of the warrior who wore it. Helmets of this period “reflected both [the warrior’s] role in the army and his position in society. Finely made helmets belonged to the princes of the Hellenistic aristocracies, while rudimentary ones were owned by foot soldiers of the armies they employed” (op. cit., p. 127). One can only imagine that the wearer of this helmet, which originally had large sheet bronze horns emerging from each side, an elaborate crest at the top, and possible hinged cheek-guards, must have had an intimidating appearance in battle. For a Pilos helmet preserving its horns and crest attachment, see no. H253 in op. cit.; for a group with a repoussé gorgoneion on the crown, found in South Italy from a Hellenistic period workshop, see nos. H218, H232, H258, H262-267 and H273 in op. cit.