Corinthian Helmet (625–550 BCE)

The Corinthian Helmet, from around 625–550 BCE, is a bronze artifact from ancient Greece, known for its unique design and historical role. This example, kept at the Cleveland Museum of Art, shows what Greek hoplite warriors relied on in battle, giving a clear look at their equipment and way of fighting.

The Corinthian Helmet comes from ancient Greece and is named after the city-state of Corinth, though it was made in many places. Built between 625 and 550 BCE, it was used by hoplites, soldiers who fought close together in a phalanx with spears and shields. Its design was all about protection, not comfort. Herodotus mentions it in his “Histories”, describing how Libyan tribes in modern Tunisia used it in a ritual fight during a festival devoted to the goddess Athena. By the 5th century BCE, Greeks started using more open helmets, but in Italy, it turned into the Italo-Corinthian style, which the Roman army used until the 1st century AD.

This helmet has a small hole above the back neckline, now fixed, that might show where it took a deadly hit in battle. It’s a quiet sign of the fighting it saw. Another story related to this type of helmet comes from Herodotus, who wrote about Libyan maidens wearing Corinthian helmets in a festival fight with sticks and stones, to honor Athena, showing it wasn’t just for war.

The Corinthian Helmet meant a lot to ancient Greeks, standing for bravery and duty. It’s shown in more sculptures and art than any other helmet, tied to ideas of glory and the past. In that Libyan ritual, it was part of honoring Athena, linking it to religion too. Romans liked it as well, copying it in their own art and adapting it for their soldiers, which shows how much they admired Greek culture and technology.

Made of bronze, this helmet is 23.5 cm tall (9 1/4 in.), 19.5 cm wide (7 11/16 in.), and 27 cm deep (10 5/8 in.). It covers the whole head and neck, with small slits for eyes and mouth, and a curved piece guarding the back. It was likely cast first, then hammered into shape, balancing smooth lines with hard edges. Crests of horsehair or other materials, now gone, would’ve been on top for looks and effect in battle.

This helmet started its journey in ancient Greece, probably made for a hoplite. How it got from there to where it is now isn’t fully clear, but it ended up at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it stays as an example of ancient Greek craftmanship.