Macedonian Helmet

Ancient Macedonian helmet.Handmade, painted with museum patina.

The helmet was a protective head covering that was part of the soldiers defense equipment. The helmets were originally made of animal skins, and in the process evolved into bronze and often had a horsetail at the top.

Over the years, the designs changed. The warriors who returned victorious from the battlefields, showed their gratitude to Zeus by offering their weapons (the so-called medals). That is the reason that ,at some particular temples of gods,archaeologists found a lot  of weaponry.

The Macedonian helmet appears for the first time in the 7th century b.c. .  And is known to this day as the pre-eminently ancient greek war helmet. It was widely spread beyond the geographical borders of ancient GREECE. The art of its construction required great skill, as the helmets of kings, generals, were decorated with various representations, and had a rich horse mane.The Alexander Sarcophagus shows Alexander the Great wearing an elaborate helmet in the form of the lion scalp of Herakles. 

THE  ORIGIN OF MACEDONIAN HELMETS

The Thracian helmet was worn by Macedonian cavalry in King Philip’s day.  But his son Alexander is said to have preferred the open-faced Boeotian helmet for his cavalry, as recommended by Xenophon. The royal burial in the Vergina Tomb contained a helmet which was a variation on the Thracian/Phrygian type.  Exceptionally made of iron, this would support its use by cavalry. Additionally, a  depicting from the Kinch Tomb, near Naousa, shows the cavalryman wearing a Thracian type helmet. The Boeotian helmet,  had a flaring rim which was folded into a complex shape offering considerable protection to the face. The Alexander Mosaic suggests that officers of the heavy cavalry had rank badges in the form of laurel wreaths (perhaps painted or constructed from metal foil) on their helmets.