How Greek Helmets were Designed for Battle

Now, with the development of planes, tanks and ships, little military engagement happens up close. In the 8th and 7th centuries BC combat was primarily hand to hand using helmets simular to the style of Greek Helmets this was maintanied through the later part of the  nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

To be able to shield their troops as much as they could, the primitive Mediterranean armies created Greek Helmets that were constructed to limit any damage to head and facial area. These Greek Helmets, which were also the precursor to the armor worn by knights during the middle ages, were constructed of one or two pieces of bronze that covered a significant portion of the wearer’s face.

The Greek Helmet provided protection for the nose, cheek bones and back of the neck. There was a different style of early Greek Helmets, due to each one being hand crafted, even though the soldiers were in the same armies.

Despite their efforts to protect soldier’s heads and faces with Greek Helmets, soldiers of this era, and many to come, wore little additional protection other than a metal chest plate. Their arms, legs and even feet were often exposed when heading into battle. And, while a Greek Helmet would have provided some protection from serious head injuries, other mortal injuries were often inflected via the limbs. Soldiers who were killed in battle because of this were often usually interred with their Greek Helmet with the nose piece bent or removed to represent their death.

Helmets worn by today's soldier bares little resemblance to their greek ancestors of twenty five centuries ago, but the main purpose is still the same, to protect the head from external forces.  The change is in the weaponry used, instead of swords and spears, soldiers in the field are dodging bullets and explosives.