08-11-2004, 10:53 AM
On the Spangenhelmets of Baldenheimer Type a lot of research has been done. The best summarize is<br>
Kurt Böhner: Die frühmittelalterlichen Spangenhelme und die nordischen Helme der Vendelzeit in RGZM 41,2 (1994).<br>
There 32 known Spangenhelmets are listed.<br>
Böhner concludes:<br>
- ALL Spangenhelmets of Baldenheimer Type were produced in the mediterranean and NOT north of the Alpes (theres no influence of germanic animal style).<br>
- there are 2 groups of helmets: one western with mainly 6 spangen, and the eastern with 4. The eastern group "belongs without doubt to byzantine helm producing" fabricae. The western group was produced in Italian fabricae, which continued to work under ostrogothic kings, under the Exarchate and until the beginning of langobard rule "with no influence of the art of the barbarian tribes", so Böhner.<br>
- Spangenhelmets were produced as "feast presents to higher officers" (by barbaricarii in the fabricae; one barbaricarius had to produce six helmets per month)<br>
- Spangenhelmets were not produced privatly<br>
- they could only be obtained as property of the state, present or as prey. Through these possibilities they came to the germanic gentes.<br>
- although Spangelmets were so precious they were used in battle (the Morken helmet has remnants of heavy sword thrusts) <p></p><i></i>
Kurt Böhner: Die frühmittelalterlichen Spangenhelme und die nordischen Helme der Vendelzeit in RGZM 41,2 (1994).<br>
There 32 known Spangenhelmets are listed.<br>
Böhner concludes:<br>
- ALL Spangenhelmets of Baldenheimer Type were produced in the mediterranean and NOT north of the Alpes (theres no influence of germanic animal style).<br>
- there are 2 groups of helmets: one western with mainly 6 spangen, and the eastern with 4. The eastern group "belongs without doubt to byzantine helm producing" fabricae. The western group was produced in Italian fabricae, which continued to work under ostrogothic kings, under the Exarchate and until the beginning of langobard rule "with no influence of the art of the barbarian tribes", so Böhner.<br>
- Spangenhelmets were produced as "feast presents to higher officers" (by barbaricarii in the fabricae; one barbaricarius had to produce six helmets per month)<br>
- Spangenhelmets were not produced privatly<br>
- they could only be obtained as property of the state, present or as prey. Through these possibilities they came to the germanic gentes.<br>
- although Spangelmets were so precious they were used in battle (the Morken helmet has remnants of heavy sword thrusts) <p></p><i></i>
