(Mis)identify the Helmet

[Matthew Amt]

Ooo, puzzles, yea! I recall a discussion either here or on the Armour Archive a while back, in which a helmet identified as early medieval or Migration era turned out to be a World War II Russian pilot's helmet! I *think* it might have looked an awful lot like numbers 2 and 3. I've seen several others like those all over the place, including a pair in a respectable book on medieval armor, so I'm getting the idea that they are way too common, too well preserved, and too consistent to be medieval...

The first one is fascinating! Without the cheekpiece, I'd probably call it 10th to 11th century, since the nasal looks a lot like that on the Wenceslas helmet, and the 4-panel construction (without bands or ridges, note!) was pretty common around then. But the cheekpiece suggests something earlier (though there are earflaps on the later Lewis chessmen), and it's true that the nasal also resembles the late Roman styles. Maybe 5th century or even 6th? (Ha, how about "3rd to 12th century", that oughta hit it!)

Fourth one, no real idea! The little point on top makes me think "Eastern", maybe Byzantine or medieval. Assuming it's iron, of course! If it's bronze, more likely Classical or Hellenistic.

What's the prize for getting it right?

Matthew