ARCHAIC PERIOD, CIRCA 550-480 B.C.

Hammered from a single sheet, of domed form, with elongated cheek-guards pierced at their lower corner, this Illyrian helmet is an exemplary demonstration of the type. Two raised ridges run across the crown with a centered frontal and rear rivets securing a separately-made horsehair crest. As seen here, the flaring neck-guard serves as a defensive feature meant to prevent sweeping overhead blows from hitting the nape of the neck. For a similar example, see no. 2, p. 7 in E.J. Milleker and S. Hemingway, “Recent Acquisitions: A Selection 2003–2004," Bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, vol. 62.