11-12-2012, 10:22 PM
The "Port" helmets are more commonly known as "Agen-Port", from two different sites originally but supposedly related as to type. The common assumption used to be that these were of Celtic origin and were made of iron, not copper alloy. As such they were regarded in some quarters as being the precursors to the Imperial Gallic types.
I think that Jens is quite right in saying that the Coolus type represents a transition between the Montefortino and the Gallic series. You can see this in the shapes of the helmet bowls, where the Coolus and IG are much more hemispherical in form that the rather conical Montefortino types. Also, in Robinson's classification it is very difficult to separate the later pattern Montefortino helms from the later Coolus varieties (D & E).
Unless the helmet carries some sort of inscription that shows you precisely who owned it, it's really impossible to be dogmatic about who wore what. There are numerous examples of Coolus and IG helmets that have multiple names scratched or punched into them (sometimes as many as four different owners). So far as I know, all these inscriptions relate to legionary owners, and not to the auxiliary regiments.
Mike Thomas
(Caratacus)
I think that Jens is quite right in saying that the Coolus type represents a transition between the Montefortino and the Gallic series. You can see this in the shapes of the helmet bowls, where the Coolus and IG are much more hemispherical in form that the rather conical Montefortino types. Also, in Robinson's classification it is very difficult to separate the later pattern Montefortino helms from the later Coolus varieties (D & E).
Unless the helmet carries some sort of inscription that shows you precisely who owned it, it's really impossible to be dogmatic about who wore what. There are numerous examples of Coolus and IG helmets that have multiple names scratched or punched into them (sometimes as many as four different owners). So far as I know, all these inscriptions relate to legionary owners, and not to the auxiliary regiments.
Mike Thomas
(Caratacus)
visne scire quod credam? credo orbes volantes exstare.
