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Human history has always been marked by conflict and aggression. One of the most primitive yet effective methods of overcoming an adversary was striking them on the head. Consequently, helmets emerged as one of the earliest forms of protective gear, aimed at shielding warriors from fatal blows. Throughout history, helmets evolved in countless styles, often adorned with intricate designs or crafted from unexpected materials.
Below, we explore 10 of the most peculiar helmets from ancient times.
10. Conical Helmets
Helmets are typically designed to mirror the shape of the human skull for optimal protection. While this makes practical sense, early helmet designs experimented with unconventional forms. Among these were the conical Kegelhelm and Pilos-style helmets.
The Kegelhelm, crafted from bronze starting in the 8th century BC, featured a straightforward conical design made from folded metal. This cone rested atop the head, leaving the face exposed. Despite occasional intricate engravings, the design's shortcomings—such as vulnerability to side impacts causing collapse—led to its eventual decline.
The pileus, a traditional hat worn by Greek workers, had a tall, peaked shape. This inspired the Pilos helmet, which retained the same form but was constructed from bronze in the 5th century. Historians believe the design allowed soldiers to wear the pileus underneath for added comfort. Some versions were adorned with elaborate decorations, and a few even featured horns.
9. Phrygian Helmet
The Phrygian cap is among the most iconic headwear from antiquity, characterized by its tall, forward-curving tip. It became a symbol of freedom, as Roman slaves received it upon emancipation. During the French and American Revolutions, it was used in propaganda to represent the rejection of oppressive rule.
Hats often served as inspiration for helmet designs, and the Phrygian cap is a prime example. Helmets modeled after this iconic cap have been unearthed across the Greek world. The Macedonian cavalry, led by King Philip and his son Alexander the Great, popularized this style. Numerous ancient depictions of their armies feature soldiers donning Phrygian helmets.
8. Crosby Garrett Helmet
The Phrygian helmet design endured for centuries and is linked to one of the most extraordinary Roman finds in Britain. In 2010, a metal detectorist near Crosby Garrett village uncovered an intricately decorated helmet adorned with a winged griffin statuette and a strikingly lifelike face mask.
While Roman cavalry helmets that fully covered the face have been found before, the Crosby Garrett helmet stands out for its exceptional preservation. Experts believe it was not intended for combat, as the face plate severely limited visibility. Instead, it was likely used in ceremonial events, where its dramatic appearance would have made a significant impact.
Under English law, treasures can be acquired by the government at market value to ensure their preservation for the nation. However, the law specifies that only gold and silver qualify as treasure. Since the Crosby Garrett helmet is made of copper alloy, it was excluded from protection. It was auctioned to a private collector for £2,330,468.
7. Golden Helmet of Coțofenești
While helmets are typically crafted from durable materials for maximum protection, they have also served as emblems of royalty, authority, and affluence when defense was not the main priority.
In the 1920s, a Romanian boy named Traian Simion stumbled upon a golden glint while digging in his village. Experts later confirmed that Simion had unearthed a gold helmet dating back to the 4th century BC, belonging to the Geto-Dacian tribes. Though impractical for combat, the helmet, weighing over 2 pounds (1 kilogram) of gold, would have been a striking display of wealth and status.
The Helmet of Coțofenești, as it is known, is adorned with intricate designs that held significant cultural meaning. The front features large, intimidating eyes, an apotropaic symbol believed to repel evil and supernatural forces. Other engravings depict ritual sacrifices and mythical creatures.
6. War Helmet of Meskalamdug
In 1924, British archaeologist Leonard Woolley uncovered the royal tombs of Ur, an ancient Mesopotamian city. Among the findings was a 26th-century BC tomb containing a bead inscribed with the name Meskalamdug, identified as the King of Kush, ruler of Sumer and Akkad. The tomb also held a man's skeleton and various treasures, including a war helmet crafted entirely from gold.
Meskalamdug's war helmet was intricately designed to resemble the wearer's hair, with detailed etchings and shaped waves. The helmet also featured realistic ears and a golden band encircling the skull, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.
5. Helmet of Constantine
Helmets often serve purposes beyond protection, acting as powerful symbols of political, social, or religious authority. Emperor Constantine exemplified this in the 4th century AD by wearing a helmet that declared his embrace of Christianity.
Depictions of Constantine show his helmet adorned with the Chi Rho symbol, a hallmark of early Christianity. However, the helmet's significance extended beyond its design. Constantine's mother, Helena, retrieved numerous relics from the Holy Land, including what was believed to be the True Cross and the nails from Jesus' crucifixion. One of these nails was reportedly incorporated into Constantine's helmet, as noted by the contemporary writer Theoderet.
“The emperor’s mother… commanded that part of the nails be embedded in the royal helmet to safeguard her son’s head from enemy attacks.”
4. Agris Helmet
The Agris helmet stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of the ancient Celtic people in France. Dating back to around 350 BC, it was unearthed in a cave in 1981, just weeks after the cave’s discovery. Unfortunately, the helmet was found in poor condition, fragmented and scattered by a badger’s burrowing.
Crafted from an iron base layered with bronze, the helmet features elaborate designs, including interwoven leaves, vines, and branches. A horned serpent adorns the cheek guard, while gold leaf was meticulously applied to every detail. Additionally, small pieces of coral were intricately shaped and affixed, adding to its ornate appearance.
Considering the fragile gold and intricate decorations, it’s improbable that the helmet was ever used in combat. Given the damage caused by burrowing animals, this was likely for the best.
3. Boar’s Tusk Helmets
Homer’s Greek epics, written down in the 8th century BC, depict a world that existed centuries earlier. The Iliad and The Odyssey recount tales of the Trojan War, a legendary event even to the ancient Greeks. Many scholars questioned the historical accuracy of these works, given their composition long after the events they describe.
In The Iliad, a unique helmet is described: “Meriones gifted Odysseus a bow, quiver, and sword, and placed a skillfully crafted leather helmet on his head. Inside, it had a sturdy lining of woven straps, topped with a felt cap. The exterior was adorned with rows of white boar tusks, arranged alternately in each row.”
Archaeological discoveries have confirmed that helmets made from boar’s tusks, as described by Homer, were indeed used in ancient Greece. These artifacts, dating from the 17th to the 10th century BC, match the detailed descriptions in the epics. It remains unclear whether they were worn for protection or as symbols of status.
2. Veksø Helmets
The Waterloo Helmet is not the only horned helmet in history. Two Bronze Age helmets with tall, curved horns were unearthed in Denmark. Known as the Veksø helmets, they were discovered in a peat bog in 1942 when a digger’s spade struck something hard.
The two recovered helmets are nearly identical, crafted from bronze and adorned with tall S-shaped horns. They feature raised bumps, or bosses, with some designs resembling eyes and eyebrows. A curved protrusion may mimic the beak of a bird of prey.
These helmets would have been impractical in battle, as their large horns could easily be grabbed or caught on weapons. Instead, they were likely used in rituals, which explains their discovery in a bog. Bronze Age communities often deposited significant objects in water as offerings to deities.
1. Waterloo Helmet
Contrary to popular depictions in children’s books, Viking raiders did not wear horned helmets. However, this does not mean horned helmets never existed in history.
In 1868, during the dredging of the River Thames near Waterloo Bridge in London, a unique helmet with two large conical horns was discovered. Dating back to around 100 BC, the bronze helmet features symbols commonly found on Celtic artifacts. It was once adorned with red glass studs, which would have gleamed a vivid red in sunlight.
While Iron Age artwork depicts warriors wearing horned helmets, the Waterloo helmet remains the only physical example ever found in Europe.
