ROMAN MURMILLO GLADIATOR HELMET

This helmet is modelled after one found in Pompeii.  The original was made of bronze.

In order to adapt the design for SCA combat, some changes necessarily had to be made.  Most notably, the tall, standing comb has been reduced to a fraction of the size of the origainal.  The wide brim was also narrowed, and the "rain gutters" at the back sides were left off of this example.  Also, the punched grill-work panels over the face were individually removable on the original, but I chose to rivet them solidly to the jaw pieces.  They have fake latches so the change isn't obvious.  The latch at the bottom center is functional.

Future versions of this helmet will have some changes, the primary one being that the whole face assembly will hinge from the top center instead of opening down the center.  While the original helmet did open down the center, the design has an inherent weakness, and I think the center-hinge design will make the helmet more stable overall.  In addition, it will simplify putting the helmet on and taking it off.  I have a few other changes in mind also, but they are minor.

The original helmet had a medallion believed to be the head of Hurcules.  On the example shown here, I opted to use a brass lion's head instead, which I purchased from an online vendor.

When I sold this helmet, the buyer decided that he wanted to spiff it up to be more like the original, so I made some changes for him.  You can see the changes on THIS PAGE.





























(Page updated 2-14-19)

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