The Crosby Garrett helmet

[Forty-One]

It is believed that Romans wore the helmets as a mark of rank or excellence in horsemanship.

Or perhaps even in the Hippika Gymnasia?! Oh boy... :roll:
Mike Bishop

Well, they're at least half right, which is pretty good going for any news media nowadays. Arrian in 34,2 of "The Art of Tactics", you'll recall, explicitly says that they were worn by men who "stood out because of rank or because of exceptional horsemanship...in order to better attract the spectators attention to them". Apparently not everyone got to wear a masked helmet at a Roman tournament (or not, at least, in Cappadocia in the mid second century).