Fastening Greek helmets

[John Conyard]

I am interested in other people’s experiences of fastening Greek and Hellenistic helmets.

Some helmets, when worn with suitable hats and well padded out, fit very well and do not need any padding. One of my two Boeotian helmets fits like a glove without padding, as do my Corinthians.

Pilos helmets can be made more secure with the attachment of two simple D rings for a leather thong or strap. Holes near the rim of existing examples show us how the helmet can be secured. Etrusco-Corintian helmets also have such holes.

The Ashmoleam Boeotian has two sets of holes punched in the brim for securing thongs, perhaps one thong around the back of the head and one under the chin, mirroring the petasos arrangement. But I have never being sure those holes are not a relatively recent addition to the helmet.

Helmets with hinged cheek pieces can be fastened by "D" rings attached to the lower edge of the cheek pieces.

But would helmets be also fastened by attachments to the rear of the helmet? I am not aware of any evidence, but I haven’t looked.

My Illyrian helmet certainly needs a way of securing it. Many existing examples seem to have holes punched at the bottom of the cheek plates, which would serve to pull them closer together but is too low to secure the helmet under the chin. The same is true for some Corinthians. It would seem more useful to have a fastening just in front and below the ear cut outs, and a Corinthian from Olympia does show these holes, but also has holes at the bottom of the cheek plates as well.

I have only ever added "D" rings to other peoples Pilos helemts, so my experience is very limited.

Any thoughts or experiences people would be willing to share?