Hellenistic Pilos Helmet

Culture: Greek

Period: 4th-3rd century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 24.2 cm high

Price: 18 000 Euro

Ref: 2650

Provenance: Collection Axel Guttmann (1944-2001) with the inventory number AG 531. Auction in 2003 with Hermann Historica in Munich, Auction 44, lot 80. Last in a south German collection.

Condition: The helmet is slightly creased. Two medallion applications restored. Otherwise only smaller closed areas in the calotte and overall very beautifully preserved. With a red-brown patina.

Description: A very high helmet of the pilos type, hammered from one bronze sheet with a tapering calotte. The smooth rim is rounded at the bottom and slightly pulled outwards. Two perforations opposite each other served for suspension of the chinstraps. On top the rim is bordered by a profiled rib, pulled out from the wall. The calotte is also smooth. Three soldered, disc-shaped medallion applications with grid- and dotted ornaments, of which one is original with traces of gilding, serve as decoration. Inside an old collection label “AG 531”, which refers to the famous collection Axel Guttman. Pilos helmets were one of the last stages of development of the Greek helmets. They were very popular especially from the 4th to the 3rd century B.C. because - due to the change of warfare - it became increasingly important for the soldiers to see and hear better on the battlefield. They could move faster because the eye cutout was missing, without having a limited field of vision. Since pilos helmets were relatively quickly produced they were widely spread in armies in the entire Hellenistic world.