H is for Helmet Mask
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| Nancy Jardine - Trimontium Museum Melrose reconstruction-original in The National Museum of Scotland |
The reconstruction of a brass helmet shown in the image
here is definitely a thing of beauty but its importance is more than just the
effect the wearer must have produced when donning it. The style of it, as compared
to a practical every day helmet, shows that recognition of art and artistic
style was prevalent, even in a site of potential war.
The helmet follows a fairly normal helmet form with a peaked
safety feature in front but may not have had any form of visor and is not thought to have been particularly functional - apart from for ceremonial purposes. The back is
what distinguishes it from a regular helmet, its beaten ornamentation really
impressive.
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| Nancy Jardine - Trimontium Museum Melrose |
The figures are en repousee: one flying and the other driving a chariot which is pulled along by two spotted panthers. These maybe cupids, though the driver may also be Victory, the leopard harness in one hand and perhaps a palm branch in the other.
Such design themes are not uncommon and can be found in other decorative situations from across the empire, cupids in particular being followers of Bacchus during his Indian triumph.
The helmet was discovered at Newstead Roman Fort, Melrose , in southern Scotland
It’s quite an exercise to imagine why some of the soldiers would have such fabulously decorated and expensive equipment in the furthest reaches of the western boundary of the Roman Empire . Questions arise as to the circumstances when they would have been worn, because they were not everyday armour.
Two more really special pieces of headgear were found at Newstead: all three remnants coming from two different pits, from south and west annexes of the fort.
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| Silvered parade helmet and mask National Museum of Scotland |
A partial parade helmet and mask were found, made of silvered iron. The features of the face mask are very regular and not necessarily a depiction of the wearer since there would have been some artistic licence in the fashioning of it by the very skilled smith. The hair is neatly trimmed, the curls again very regular indicating a particular artistic style, the hair then adorned with a wreath.
Perhaps the wreath is meant to convey a ceremonial function, or maybe it's meant to indicate success in some competition or games. Unlike the brass helmet above, this iron one would have been worn by an auxiliary cavalryman in displays designed to show off the prowess of the rider and the excellent control a well-drilled horse.
This helmet and mask are dated to 80-100 A.D. putting it firmly within the Flavian occupation of southern Scotland during the Caledonian campaigns. these displays were sometimes referred to as hippika gymnasia.
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| Nancy Jardine |
A third piece, a bronze face mask was uncovered during the Curle excavations, only the face and forehead surviving. This one has been likened to those that were designed to represent an Amazon, the noble enemies of Rome .
It may be that in wearing such a helmet the wearer was enacting some ancient tale such as Achilles’ defeat and slaughter of the Amazon Queen Penthesilea, after which Achilles mourned and grieved over her loss.
This could have been a dramatic re-enactment in the parade ground of Newstead. There were many other plays and stories which may have provided not only entertainment for the bulk of those garrisoned at Newstead, but the displays were also morale boosters and intended to encourage and promote military prowess.
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| Nancy Jardine Trimontium Museum Melrose |
And it wasn't only the auxiliary cavalryman who was well decorated because the most impressive horse leather chamfron was discovered, sufficient of it remaining to make an excellent reconstruction.
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The wearer of the helmet and mask would also likely have
worn specially designed body armour, probably gilded or studded in some way, armour
that again wasn’t that in daily use. His horse would have worn a chamfron as seen here, also shining with gilt studs or some shiny enamelling. The
saddle-cloth may have been of a brighter than normal colour and perhaps made
from a more expensive material. It’s probable the harness fittings may have
been of a less practical and more decorative metals and inlaid with black
nielloed ornamentation- again a work of art that would have jingled as the
horse cantered or moved around the parade ground.
The auxiliary cavalry unit at Newstead, during the Flavian period were clearly not at war all of the time.
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| Nancy Jardine- National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh |
The decorated white horse is in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh and displays the chamfron and decorative harness pieces.
The composite photograph below is one that I took at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh and the cabinet contains the original masks.
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| Nancy Jardine -National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh |
Till tomorrow and another #A2ZChallenge post...
Slainthe!
It is fascinating to speculate about the circumstances in which these would have been worn and displayed. You obviously don't use such expensive materials and put such workmanship into something without what seems like a compelling reason. Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBlack and White: H is for Hercinia
thank you for popping in, Anne and I believe you are spot on about the special use for such quality items.
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