Beschreibung:

Samatian or Meotian Chalcidian Helmet 3rd-1st century BC A bronze Chalcidian helmet showing the features of Attic and Chalcidian helmets of the 4th century BC, being formed of a bronze bowl with raised panels to the crown and brow, the rim on the front takes the shape of a short nose-guard, which recalls the prototypes of the Pseudo-Attic Chalcidian typology; like the helmets of the Illyrian category, along the bottom of the crown embossed with a relief running around the circumference, formed by a rolled up and forged edge; the cheek pieces are connected to the bowl by a three-part clasp, of which two bronze fastening rivets are still visible, each of the cheek-piece is D-shaped with scooped forward edge, with a hole for the fastening of the chin-strap. 550 grams, 29cm (11 1/2"). Fair condition, restored. [No Reserve] Provenance From a London W1, UK, collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato Literature See Masson, M. E., Pugachenkova, G. A. Parfi anskie ritony Nisy (Parthian rhyta from Nisa). Al’bom illiustratsii (Album of illustrations), Moscow, 1956; Beglova, E. A., Antichnoe nasledie Kubani (Ancient heritage of Kuban) III, Moscow, pp.410-422 (in Russian); Dedjulkin A. V., 'Locally Made Protective Equipment of the Population of North-Western Caucasus in the Hellenistic Period', in Stratum Plus, n.3, 2014, pp.169-184; Симоненко А. В., 'Шлемы сарматского времени из Восточной Европы' (Sarmatian Age Helmets from Eastern Europe), in Stratum Plus, n.4, 2014, pp.249-284. Footnotes This helmet is very similar to various examples found in Sarmatian and Meotian graves, although its origin is from Greek prototypes. The type is characterised by a hemispherical bowl, laterally compressed, with strong marked brow ridges and a sharp short nose-band. According both to Symonenko and Dedjulkin (2014, p.189, fig.9, nn.4-5-6), this category of helmets derived from the Chalcidian types. According to Dedjulkin, these helmets, although derived from Greek prototypes, were simplifications of the original models, made by local artisans. The related centres of productions of such items have been localised at the sites of the ancient Meotian settlements of the Trans-Kuban region, at the northern foothills of the Western Caucasus, as well as in the valleys of the Belaya and Kurdzhips rivers. These centres operated in the period from the second half of the 4th century until the 1st century BC. Judging upon the location of the finds, these types of converted and modified Greek helmets were used by the Barbarians of the North Caucasus in the Late Hellenistic Era and served as models for local blacksmiths.