ancient \"headlight\" on helmets

[Cacaius]

Salvete

Do you have any idea what those guys on the far left and right wears on their helmets ?
Have you seen anything similar on other sources ?

This one comes from Arch of Constantine.

Here you can see it more clearly
http://theeyegame.com/DeepZoom/ArchOfConstantine

Its on the one of panels related with Trajan's period.
http://www.rome101.com/Topics/ArchConstantine/


If its not
- a headlight
OR
- a rocket launcher

Then what ?

Any SERIOUS ideas ?

[D B Campbell]

This one?
[attachment=77]TrajanicRelief.jpg[/attachment]
Edit: Oops -- didn't realise you'd posted a picture. (I wasn't logged-in when I read your message.)

[Matthew Amt]

I seriously think you're spending too much time looking for trouble! (Sorry, not much help!)

Best guess, it's a crest! Floral, it looks like, to match the floral motifs seen on some shields?

Too short for a rocket launcher, but could be a high-gain antenna.

Matthew

[M. Demetrius]

could be a high-gain antenna.

:grin: I'm sure that's it. He's the communication officer and uplink for telefonica cellularia and the hubbus Internettus. Obviously, not everyone needed a helmet like that.

[rusty myers]

I think I saw one one Ancients Aliens on the History channel... so its GOT to be true!

[M. Demetrius]

Those guys should be in the next Olympics...their event? The Logical Longjump!

[Nathan Ross]

Ahum (serious face)... it's usually interpreted as a helmet crest used by the praetorian cavalry / equite singulares. There's an Angus McBride illustration of the crest in (I think) 'Ancient Celts' (?). Very much guesswork though.

[Paullus Scipio]

Ahum (serious face)... it's usually interpreted as a helmet crest used by the praetorian cavalry / equite singulares. There's an Angus McBride illustration of the crest in (I think) 'Ancient Celts' (?). Very much guesswork though.

....furthermore, this type of crest seems to be unique to the reign of Trajan or thereabouts.Much of the sculpture used on Conatantine's arch was pilfered from earlier monuments, and the panels in question were removed from Trajan's forum and re-used on the Arch.