Difference between revisions of "Conical Helmets"

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''Norman Sicilian style''<br>
 
''Norman Sicilian style''<br>

Revision as of 18:48, 7 March 2013

Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.
Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.


"Western researchers do not doubt the nomadic origins of conical helmets, which appeared not later then 900AD and changed the half egg-like or spherical helmets of the Merovingian and Carolingian period. In fact, conical helmets are known in the south and east of USSR according to findings and depictions from the last quarter of the first millenium AD17. In the light of this evidence, the conical helmet from Gnëzdovo, the oldest in Europe (C10th), is not necessary northern or western in origin. Possibly we are dealing with evidence of the nomad migration, a marker on the way to how conical helmets spread into Europe."
[KIRPICHNIKOV 1971]


Art

  • Ledberg runestone, [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1131]
  • Ostergotland; [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1131]
  • Antler pin, Sigtuna; [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1131]
  • Copper alloy figurine, Rallinge; [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1131]
  • Ear scoop, Lund [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1131].

Literature
--
Archaeology
See Catalogue of Conical Helmets
Discussion
--

Conical helmets made from riveted panels

A conical iron helm constructed from riveted plates.

Often referred to as Spangen helms after the German for ‘clasp, clip, link’ (Schoss, personnel communication).

This category incorporates 3 different types of helm

4 riveted plates

Laking Metropolitan1.jpg

Art

  • Bayeux Tapestry (TBT)

Literature
--
Archaeology

  • Metropolitan [HARRISON 1993]
  • Auction – Time-Lines [EAVES n.d.]
  • Auction – Hermann-Historica [EAVES 2001].
  • Russian Helms

Discussion
--

2 plates joined with a ridge band

Art

  • Hylestad stave church, Norway, c.1200AD [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992: p.171,344 cat.442]

Literature
--
Archaeology

  • Gnëzdovo, Russia, C10th [KIRPICHNIKOV 1971]

Discussion
Kirpichnikov considers the 2 piece conical helm to be the earliest form of conical helm in Russia and classes this as his type I. Interestingly his other example of a type I helmet is possibly of single piece construction [KIRPICHNIKOV 1971].

4 plates joined with a ridge and cross band

Laking Spangen.jpg

Art

  • Bayeux Tapestry [WILSON 1985]

Literature
--
Archaeology
None
Discussion
This interpretation is a logical extrapolation from the Gjermundbu helm, which is actually of spangen construction and the conical helms depicted in Anglo-Saxon manuscripts.
I suspect that much of this style of helmet's popularity with reenactors comes from Laking's reconstruction from his hugely influencial book from the 1920's[LAKING 1920].

Conical helmets made from a 'Single Piece'

There are two types 'Straight' and 'Forward Peaked'

Straight

Laking Olmtz.jpg

Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • Wenceslas Helm, 800-1000AD
  • Olmtz Helm, Czech Republic, 1050 – 1150AD
  • Augsburger
  • Axel Guttmann Helm, Central Europe, 1000 – 1300AD
  • Maas
  • Poznan, Poland, 11th / 12th (SKODELL 2008)
  • Kiev Helm (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1128)
  • Orchowskie Lake, Poland, 1050 – 1150AD
  • Hradsko

Discussion
These helms are not actually raised from a single piece of iron but are instead welded together. The Wenceslas Helm has been dated to 800-1000AD due to the art style on its separate nasal. The Augsburger helm has a hook on the end of the nasal. This may have been used to hang an aventail across the face.
Kirpichnikov classes these helemts as his style IIa [KIRPICHNIKOV 1971]

Forward peak [N]

Norman Sicilian style
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology
--
Discussion
--

Conical helmets with aventails

A curtain of mail attached to the rear of a helm and designed to protect the neck.
Art
Aventails are depicted frequently in Carolingian manuscripts
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • Coppergate helm, England, C8th
  • Gjermundbu helm, Norway, C10th
  • Wenslas helm, C9th /10th (SKODELL 2008)
  • Pecs helm, late C10th (SKODELL 2008)
  • Poznan helm, Poland, C11th / C12th (SKODELL 2008)

Discussion
They are replaced as the most common form of neck protection by mailshirts with integral coifs after the mid C11th. Most helms would probably had had some form of neck protection.

... edged in leather


Helmets without nasals

Art
Carolingian and Anglo-Saxon manuscripts both show helms without nasals.
Literature
--
Archaeology
All of the ‘Conical helms constructed from 4 riveted plates’ and all of the ‘Domed – riveted helms’ found to date have had no nasals. It is impossible to state however that they did not have an attached nasal originally.
Some of the 12 Russian conical helms from the C10th and C12th also have no nasals - there are no C11th finds (KIRPICHNIKOV 1971).
Discussion
Skodell makes an argument that this may be artistic license and points to a number of images from the Book of Maccabees manuscript showing nasals on helms that are not being worn but no nasals on worn helms [SKODELL 2008].
Kirpichnikov when discussing Russian helmets from the C10th notes that the conical helmets without nasals originated from Eastern nomads. [KIRPICHNIKOV 1971]
Although Skodell makes a more than plausible argument, I suspect that helemts with nasals were still common during the Viking Age.