02-21-2011, 07:37 AM
I would agree that these helmets are not necessarily cavalry types too.....
This of course goes back to Russell-Robinson, who classified two helmets of this type, one from the river Saone in France and the other from Guisborough in England as "Cavalry Sports Type I ", ( the one in Dennis' photos)along with a somewhat dis-similar type which shared the elaborate relief decoration. The latter, because of its 'solid ears'( a cavalry helmet characteristic) probably was a cavalry helmet, but the former two helmets have no cheekpieces so it is uncertain if they had 'open' or closed ear-holes. Nor is there any indication that these helmets had masks, that other characteristic of helmets made for the 'Hippika Gymnasia'
Judging by the photos in Russell-Robinson, the river Saone example seems to have attachment loops for a crest just behind the brow ( which looks suspiciously modern) and another low at the rear, though it is difficult to see how a crest would have fitted over the high relief decoration, unless it was raised in some way. The Guisborough example has no traces of a crest visible in photos.
This of course goes back to Russell-Robinson, who classified two helmets of this type, one from the river Saone in France and the other from Guisborough in England as "Cavalry Sports Type I ", ( the one in Dennis' photos)along with a somewhat dis-similar type which shared the elaborate relief decoration. The latter, because of its 'solid ears'( a cavalry helmet characteristic) probably was a cavalry helmet, but the former two helmets have no cheekpieces so it is uncertain if they had 'open' or closed ear-holes. Nor is there any indication that these helmets had masks, that other characteristic of helmets made for the 'Hippika Gymnasia'
Judging by the photos in Russell-Robinson, the river Saone example seems to have attachment loops for a crest just behind the brow ( which looks suspiciously modern) and another low at the rear, though it is difficult to see how a crest would have fitted over the high relief decoration, unless it was raised in some way. The Guisborough example has no traces of a crest visible in photos.
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
