Historically Accurate Greek Helmets and How They Evolved

Greek helmets is a term that encompasses quite a few specific styles of headgrear.  This includes the Corinthian and Thracian among others.  Developed during the 7th century bc, they were used well in the early ad's during the rapid expansion and take over of Greece and had a life span of over 500 years.

Greek Helmet Unique Designs

Greek helmets are known by many different distinct types of helmets and these include the Corinthian, Illyrian, Chalcidian, Pilos, Petasus, Beotian, and Thracian. Of course, as the head is the most important part of the body, these war helmets were made to specifically provide ample protection to that area.|Helmets were often forged out of one piece of metal, usually bronze, and were made to give protection to the head, cheek, nose, as well as overall padding to the head. The Corinthian, Chalcidian, Pilos, Petasus, Beotian, and Thracian helmets were created with two distinct parts of metal, while other designs such as the Spartan helmet was made from one piece of metal, making it more difficult to forge.

Putting on a Greek Helmet for Battle

When the fight was about to begin, soldiers would bring the helmet over the face and head to provide resistance to sword blows and enemy missle fire, such as arrows. When the soldiers were marching or just sitting around the file at the battle cample, the chinstrap allowed them to just slip the helmet off the back of the head.

Changes of the Greek Helmet through Time

By historians and archeologists, the Greek Corinthian helmet is thought to be one of the earliest designs of the helmet.  But, because of the need to have thick metal covering most of the head and face, it was very hard to see out of it. So, through the years, the helmet was modified and upgraded to be more effective.  Other types of helmets such as the Thracianor became increasingly popular because they provided more visability. And, because these greek helmets provided less facial protection, they were less detailed and required less bronze -- making them cheaper and easier to manually produce in large quantities.  Do to the hand-made nature of these items, it was important to make production less labor intensive so that thousands of soldiers could wear them.