Ancient Roman Helmets

Ancient Roman helmets in particular are some of the most interesting pieces of military hardware in existence.

Every piece was made by a blacksmith and most ancient Roman helmets weren't all made by the same man. There were thousands of blacksmiths making these helmets and each one had their own unique style. This variety is made even more immense by the different types of helmets associated with rank and purpose.

Some helmets were made for parade demonstrations and would be worn by everyone from rank and file soldiers to generals along with their parade uniforms. These were often variations on the actual military models but had carvings, insignias, head ornaments, and other symbols of position and power. The design and construction of helmets was even further differentiated by local culture and available materials.

The majority of ancient Roman helmets that the average foot soldier would wear were made from either bronze or iron. These ranged from simple to complicated designs and were the staple of the Roman infantry. Ranking officers wore modified versions of these which stood out more and showed their rank amongst their men. Certain areas of the Roman Empire had steel helmets but they were mostly issued to high ranking officers.

Though steel was the strongest material at the time it was also the most costly and therefore not very economical to equip the entire army with. But that isn't saying that the weapons and armor made from iron and bronze were no good. They did conquer and rule over a large portion of the ancient world during their best years. Many of the modern concepts that we take credit for in our headgear developments were originally developed by the Romans.

The concept of a helmet that covers the back, top, forehead, and sides of the head was something that was lacking during WW1. We finally patted ourselves on the back when we reached the design of the units our soldiers use today. Yet the Romans understood the need of a helmet that protected as much as possible centuries ago and even the basic infantryman's helmet afforded this protection.

Now guaranteed it wouldn't do much good if someone stabbed said infantryman in the face or shot an arrow from a high powered bow. However for glancing blows, small weapons, and even some light ranged weapons they afforded immense protection. Even during the fall of the Roman Empire the armies of Rome still held some of the most advanced armor and weapons designs in the world.

Though the Romans eventually fell ancient Roman helmets continue to entice and astound scholars and archeologists. Their attention to detail, functionality, and effectiveness is far greater than most civilizations of the time. These were made from bronze, iron, steel, had ornate decorations, and some are still in excellent condition today. They were worn by soldiers from many ranks and most surviving models have survived events that would ruin other helmets.