Roman Helmet and sword.

[Gregg]

An interesting question. The helmet seems to have evolved to fit the Roman style of warmaking, and assuming we accept Robinson's clear line of evolution then I would tend to agree that something like the Imperial Gallic D could be held up as a design peak. Maximum protection without sacrificing vision or hearing. Definitely a helmet for a soldier, not a warrior. You can see similar features in the 17th century English and European lobstertail helmets. And in an interesting bit of parallel evolution, you can see almost identical features on the Japanese happuri face defense, which was often added in addition to a helmet. It was a metal plate that followed the outline of the brow and cheeks, like the cheek-pieces on the more advanced Roman helmets, and featuring the same standing flanges on the back of the cheeks as on some Roman helmets like the Imperial Gallic D, F, and H. The happuri was meant to add extra protection to the forehead against downward slashing strikes, as well as protecting the rest of the face without sacrificing vision or hearing. The happuri combined with a (very basic) Japanese helmet would have served an almost identical purpose to that of the Roman helmet. Though the Japanese Samurai obviously never excised the primitive "warrior" spirit from their warmaking, and were obsessed with rich personal style in their armor, their armor and weapons were nevertheless functional and efficient. The common Ashigaru foot soldiers, who were expected to follow orders and execute complex battlefield maneuvers at speed, tended to be armed and armored in a stripped-down style quite reminiscent of the Roman legionary, in function if not form.<br>
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Received wisdom regarding the beginnings and end of Roman helmet evolution has always seemed kind of strange to me. It's hard to understand why the early Romans would eschew the superior protection of the Attic helmet for the Montefortino helmet. And why suddenly discard centuries of evolution in helmet design in favor of the poor quality, poorly designed Intercisa "Ridge"-type helmets? I've read a number of theories regarding the final changes in helmet design, which I definitely believe were a clear sign of decline.<br>
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Gregg <p></p><i></i>