Illyrian helmet Greek civilization, late VII / first half of the 6th century BC Illyrian helmet (Type II, see Angelo Bottini et al., Antike Helme, Mainz, 1988) in bronze with spherical cap distinguished at its base by a light fairing, at the top of the cap there is a double raised ridge flanked by two ribs for the application of the crest, raised ribs on the forehead, two angular paraguance (paragnatidae) pointed towards the lower vertex, an everted neck roll with narrow horizontal brim. The edges of the cap, the paraguance and the neck roll are covered with decorative reinforcements made up of a row of circular rivets. The type of helmet conventionally called "Illyrian" has been found, in numerous specimens, as a dedication in the sanctuary of Olympia and seems to have been the favorite helmet in Northern Greece and in the Peloponnese, judging from the finds in the tombs of the 6th century BC. in some cases the helmets found in the funeral items were accompanied by gold masks. The helmet was part of the essential protection of the Greek warrior (hoplite) for generations, they were made to measure by beating the bronze on a special anvil, so as to fit perfectly. These helmets were valuable goods and were often passed down from fathers to children. Cod. 13/2012 Illyrian Bronze Helmet VI century BC An Illyrian type bronze helmet (Type II, as defined in Angelo Bottini, et al., Antike Helme, Mainz, 1988) hemispherical, heavy skull with a strong, high crest base on the crown contoured by two stepped ridges on either side, raised lines and an attachment hole above the rectangular face cutout. Deep side cut-outs in back of the elegant, slightly constricted, pointed cheek pieces, with have holes for the chinstraps. Horizontal, narrow neck-guard. The perimeter is decorated with a heavy raised border with lentil-headed decorative rivets. The Illyrian helmet probably originated in the Peloponnesus, but long after it had ceased to be current there it was popular among the warrior chieftains to the north beyond the Greek settlement, in modern Albania, Yugoslavia, ie ancient Illyria (hence its conventional name), and less so in Bulgaria and Rumania. They were imported into these parts from Greek workshops. The Illyrian helmet is close-fitting and gives good cover to the forehead and cheeks. However, the neck is exposed, although this will often have been taken care of by a special neck piece, which formed part of some metal corselets. There is no nose-guard, and also the helmet is unduly heavy with the weight of its thick walls. Again the lower edge is decorated simply with a border of ridges and dots. A leather strap was probably fitted through the holes in the cheek-piece. Cod. 13/2012