provocator \'bell\' helmet?

[Pictus]

hello, first post.

planning on commissioning a helmet for full contact gladiator combat (as a provocator) and was wondering if anyone had worn a helmet of the type shown here:

http://www.fragmentsoftime.com/provocator_gladiator.htm

i haven't seen any copies on the various groups webpages and was wondering about the advantages/disadvantages compared with the usual Imperial Gallic skull w/ pierced occulars.

this will be for SCA rattan combat (fighting w/ them the last 14 years). we've had a few -bad- gladiator personae and i want to put some effort into doing it as right as i'm able given the group's limitations.

RAT is an amazing resource, i've been lurking for some time.

[Robert Vermaat]

Hello Pictus,

Welcome to the forum. But, may I ask you to enter your real name in your signature please? It's a forum rule, you know.

[Pictus]

just trying to find how to turn it on in the Profile. i'm a little web challenged. i'll get it....

[john m roberts]

Pictus
Helmets of that type come from the Greek east. I don't know of any surviving examples or any reconstructions. Until an original is found, construction remains conjectural.

[Pictus]

Pictus
Helmets of that type come from the Greek east. I don't know of any surviving examples or any reconstructions. Until an original is found, construction remains conjectural.

thank you, hadn't hear about them being from Greece before. can you post a source?

i still may forward the pics to my armourer and see what he thinks about making one.

[john m roberts]

Pictus
No need for sources. Go to the innumerable grave stele and other reliefs that show that type of helmet. The inscriptions are invariably in Greek, not Latin.

[Pictus]

ah.

so does that make it a sort of provincial variant?

[michiann]

Hi, that "bell" helmet is also seen in relief and a picture of it appears on page 57 of "Gladiators and Caesars" by Kohne and Ewigleben. Specifically, this one is from Turkey in Smyrna. Coincidently, i'm from new york also. Regards, michiann