Roman Use of the Attic Helmet

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Has any one tried using a Attic style helmet either in mock combat or on horseback to see how functional it is?

I do not necessarily mean taking a gladius or spear to it and cracking away at it but, more along the line of wearing it while on horseback cantering/galloping around and in dismounted mock combat to see how it wears.

The testings might shed some light whether it was a parade helmet or truly a functional combat helmet.

I would think that a attic helmet would cost many times that of a regular helmet, and if covered in precious metals like gold and silver I am sure were stripped and broken down for their metals and sold. That and the fact that there were far less officers in the military might account for why we have not seen any yet on digs and finds.

Thoughts?..

V/r
Mike

I have often come to the same conclusion about high quality items....!

Also, those elaborate helmets would offer protection in the form of crumple zones and strengthening through thickness I would imagine, so perhaps there is some practicality to them?