ARCHAIC PERIOD, CIRCA MID 6TH CENTURY B.C.

The Corinthian helmet is perhaps the most iconic of all Greek helmet types. They are usually hammered from a single sheet, with characteristic almond-shaped eye holes, here tapering to a point at their outer corners. The flaring neck guard, integral cheekpieces and prominent nose-guard offered the wearer maximum protection. On the present example, the border is perforated, perhaps to secure a leather lining or for attachment of a now-missing ornamental strip. For a related example formerly in the Bill Blass collection and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see no C9 in R. Hixenbaugh, op. cit.