MAGNA GRAECIA, LATE ARCHAIC TO EARLY CLASSICAL PERIOD, CIRCA 525-475 B.C.

The Apulo-Corinthian helmet type, also called Pseudo-Corinthian, was worn cap-like on top of the head, rather than enclosing the head in the manner of the earlier Corinthian predecessor. The cheek-pieces of this new variant no longer serve their original purpose, as they now angle forward to function as a visor. The form of the nose-guard, eye-openings and gap between the cheek-pieces are now purely decorative. This example features embossed brows above the eye-openings. At the back is a flaring neck-guard, and at the sides, perforations to secure a chin strap. The helmet is surmounted by a tall, forked plume-holder above a twisted stem. The surface is lavishly engraved with addorsed horses above the neck-guard, a boar on the proper-left cheek-guard and a floral motif on either side above the perforations.

This helmet is characteristic of A. Bottini's Type B, all of which feature open eyes, the nose in relief and the cheek-guards joined by one or more bridges (see "Gli Elmi Apulo-Corinzi: Proposta di Classificazione," AION: Annali di archeologia e storia antica, vol. 12, 1990, pp. 23-37). For a related example, see fig. 6, p. 113, in Bottini, et al., eds., Antike Helme.