Fish on helmets?!?

[Martin Wallgren]

Sulla Felix posted this link on another thread!

Is there any theory on the fishes on the helmets? Are other animals or designs common in pictures and reliefs? The helmet look quite alot lika a Gallic exept for the fish.

[Praefectusclassis]

Oh man, that sculpture has been discussed in the earliest times of RAT! Do a search for Mainz fishies.

[andersao]

Are other animals or designs common in pictures and reliefs?

An interesting example of an animal on a helmet is a Celtic one. A find from a burial at Ciumesti, Romania has a helmet which is surmounted by a bronze bird with wings hinged to the body to allow them to flap.

'Celtic Warrors' by W.F. and J.N.G. Ritchie, Shire Archaeology, 1985, p. 47

Also, Diodorus Siculus, History v, has this about animals on helmets:

"In some cases, horns are attached so as to form one piece, in others the foreparts of birds or quadrupeds wrought in chain"

These of course are references to Celtic warriors (mostly during the Roman Republic), but for a great article on individual designs on Roman armour see Dr. Kate Gilliver's latest article, ‘Display in Roman Warfare: The appearance of armies and individuals on the battlefield’, in War in History 14.1 (2007), 1-21. That should give you some answers, and if not, it's still a fascinating read.

Hope that helps :wink:

[Titus Martius]

Hi Martin, look here.

[Tarbicus]

but for a great article on individual designs on Roman armour see Dr. Kate Gilliver's latest article, ‘Display in Roman Warfare: The appearance of armies and individuals on the battlefield’, in War in History 14.1 (2007), 1-21. That should give you some answers, and if not, it's still a fascinating read.

And available for paid viewing here:
http://intl-wih.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/14/1/1
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsSubscr ... nal201834&