Roman galea helmets

Choosing the right Roman helmet can be a challenging task for reenactors and collectors. Romans used different types of helmets. In this blog, we assist in making the right choice. In this blog, we discuss the different types of Imperial Galea helmets, also known as 'Wiesenaue' helmets.

In other blogs, we cover various other types of Roman helmets from the Roman Republic (6th - 1st century BC) and the Late Roman Empire (3rd to 5th century AD).

Russell-Robinson (1975) categorized Galea helmets into two groups, Gallic and Italic helmets. This classification can be misleading because both types of helmets were made by fabricae throughout the Roman Empire. Modern historians therefore often refer to 'Wiesenaue' (Imperial helmets) and Hagenau (Coolus helmets). However, the Robinson typology allows for attention to a wide diversity of this type of helmet, and therefore we use this typology here. First, we mention some pitfalls.

Weapons and armor from various fabricae throughout the Roman Empire. The result was a mix of different helmets of roughly the same type, each with small differences. A Roman legion therefore never had uniform helmets. Additionally, helmets and armor were reused and could thus be worn for a significantly long time. There is no evidence that Italic Galea helmets came exclusively from fabricae in Italy. 

The helmet crests, like the brass decoration on these helmets, were intended to intimidate enemies. The helmet crest made the wearer about 20 cm taller, just like the plumes on earlier Montefortino and Coolus helmets.

Some of the Imperial Galea helmets had a fitting for a helmet crest. It is possible that helmet crests were worn by officers such as the centurion or optio. It is possible that all legionaries wore a helmet crest during military parades, but these were only worn by officers during battles.  There is some evidence (the writings of Vegetius and some sculptures) that legionaries mounted their helmet crests longitudinally, while centurions mounted them transversely. 

The crests were usually made of plumes or horse hair. Although the hairs were usually red, the crests could also appear in other colors, such as yellow, purple, and black, and possibly in combinations of these colors, such as alternating yellow and black. 

The Galea helmets were likely developed further from Celtic Agen/Port helmets, named after their discovery sites. During Caesar's Gallic wars, legionaries wore the bronze (brass) Montefortino and early Coolus helmets (type A). These were significantly less strong than the steel helmets of the Gallic enemy.

Probably around the 1st century BC, the Romans therefore had steel Gallic helmets reproduced and adapted to their own preferences.  This innovation also influenced the design of the Coolus helmets.

The Imperial Gallic Galea helmet is an impressive example of the evolution of Roman military equipment. The design focuses on functionality and mass production. The Roman legionary wore a large scutum that could protect almost the entire front of a person. The vulnerable areas were thus at the lower legs and at the head and neck. Therefore, in both the later coolus and the imperial helmets, emphasis was placed on the cheek plates and neck guard. The helmet bowl of the Galea helmets follows the same shape as the Celtic Port helmets and is equipped with a neck guard and cheek plates. From the Imperial Gallic type B, the helmets received not only ear holes but also ear protection, which was made from a separate protruding strip. Later models were equipped with a handle at the back, allowing the helmet to be easily carried around the neck with a lace during marches. Most Gallic Galea helmets had a distinctive eyebrow protector. This resembles a straight 'visor' halfway down the front of the helmet. This protector ensured that swords glancing off the helmet bowl did not end up in the face.

The Imperial Gallic Galea helmets were clearly influenced by Gallic styles, also in their decorations. They had a semi-circular crown that resembles eyebrows or wings, an extended neck guard, and a frontal reinforcement. These helmets were usually made of iron, although examples made of bronze are also known. 

This replica is a Gallic Galea found in Nijmegen and dates back to the 1st century AD. The original, made of iron, originates from the reign of Emperor Augustus and is considered one of the first models of the Imperial Gallic or Weisenau typology.

Based on basic from associated pottery finds, the specimen is dated between the end of the 1st century BC and the beginning of the 1st century AD (the Augustan Period). The helmet features two raised "eyebrows" at the front of the skull, a characteristic typical of all helmets of this typology. Additionally, the design includes ear openings without additional protection.

The find represents an important example of early Roman helmet designs, combining functional and aesthetic innovations, and was widely used during this transitional period.

This is a replica of a Roman helmet from the 1st century AD. It was found in the river Kupa, near Sisak, in Croatia. The original is exhibited in Zagreb.

Robinson considered the type "G" as the typical helmet of the mid-1st century. A well-known example of this type comes from Mainz-Weisenau. Archaeological finds of this type of helmet have also been made in Great Britain, at the ancient site of Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester), dating from the Boudicca uprising in 61 AD.

This is a replica of a Roman helmet found in the amphitheater of Besançon in France. This was the capital of the Sequani, who called on Julius Caesar's help to expel the Germans. A similar helmet was also found in Yugoslavia.

This is a replica of a specimen found in Hebron, Palestine. The original was worn between circa 100 and 150 AD.

This is a replica of a Roman original from the early 1st century AD, which was found in Augsburg, Germany. This type of helmet closely resembles the type G but is distinguished by a different style of raised "eyebrows" and a more sloping neck guard, which provided extra protection to the back of the head.

The most complete example of this type was excavated along the river Lech near Augsburg and is dated between the first half of the 1st century and the 3rd century AD. This type of helmet is one of the most iconic Roman legionary helmets, alongside the type G, with which it is almost identical.

The dating of this helmet is quite accurately established in the middle of the 1st century AD, making it an excellent choice for reenactments from the period of Emperor Nero and likely the subsequent decade.

Like the Imperial Gallic helmet, the Imperial Italic helmet first appeared during the Late Republic and remained in use until the 3rd century AD. The general appearance of the Imperial Italic helmet closely resembles that of the Imperial Gallic helmet. However, the Italic variant may show influences from the Attic Greek helmet of the 4th to 3rd century BC. 

In modern times, this helmet is often associated with officers such as centurions and members of the Praetorian Guard. The reason for this was that some Italic Galea helmets are more luxuriously decorated than the general Galea helmets. However, it is unclear whether the helmet was a rank insignia or simply a sign of the greater financial means of these soldiers, or neither.

Other unique features include the round disc-shaped attachment for crests and the absence of eyebrows. A number of preserved examples of this type are made of bronze instead of iron, which aligns more with the Italic than the Celtic tradition. 

After Emperor Trajan's Dacian wars in 101 AD, crossed reinforcements were added to the helmet bowl, to protect the legionnaires against the curved swords of the Dacians, which could pierce Roman shields and execute attacks from above.

From the second century, the neck protector was significantly widened so that it also began to protect the shoulders. Additionally, in some examples, the eyebrow protector was also widened. 

This is a reproduction of a Roman helmet found in Klakanje, Croatia. This type of helmet was worn during the Dacian wars in 101-102 AD.

This is a replica of an Italic Galea found in the Roman fort near Krefeld, Germany. It was likely worn between 70 and 150 AD. A similar helmet has also been found in Mainz. This is perhaps the most beautifully decorated helmet from the late 1st century AD. Although some of these helmets may have been used alongside the Italic C, this is certainly a great helmet for a legionary from the reigns of Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian.

This type was decorated with golden patterns and seemed to be a mass-produced item. The neck guard and the rear part were highly reinforced, possibly to better protect legionaries against the curved swords of the Dacians during the conquest of Dacia in the years 101-106 AD. 

This is a replica of a specimen found in Hebron, Palestine. The original was worn between circa 100 and 150 AD.

This is the perfect helmet for a legionary from the first half of the 1st century AD. With its cross-shaped reinforcement on the skull, this is the typical helmet worn by legionaries during the reigns of Trajan (98-117) and Hadrian (117-138).

Type "G": This type was almost identical to the "D" type but offered better protection to the neck, even against lateral attacks. The disc at the back was designed to be both slanted and curved.

This is a replica of an Italic Galea found in the Balkans. The original was probably worn between 150 and 250 AD.

This helmet, dated to the end of the 2nd century AD, is the last type from the Imperial Italic family. It is highly protective and features all the typical characteristics of earlier imperial helmets, but almost exaggerated. Type "H" is one of the best-preserved types. This helmet was very richly decorated and internally particularly well reinforced. The upper section had decorative elements like "eagle wings" or "eyebrows". The neck guard was deep and offered excellent protection. This type was presumably supplied to the Roman army during the Antonine and Severan dynasties.

This is a helmet that would certainly suit a legionary fighting during the Marcomannic Wars (167-189), the reign of Commodus (180-192), and the reign of Septimius Severus (193-211).

No, this is not a repetition. This is indeed the same typology of the helmet above, but historically it was made entirely of bronze (our replica is made of brass).

As you can see, the decoration is also significantly different. A perfect helmet for the second half and the end of the 2nd century AD.

This is a replica of a helmet found in Mainz, Germany, originally intended for the Roman auxilia (auxiliary troops). The original dates back to the 1st century AD. A similar example can be seen in the museum in Cardiff.

Although this helmet is simpler in design than its contemporaries, such as the Italic C and D, it is believed to have been primarily worn by the auxilia. However, there is no evidence that excludes its use by regular Roman legionaries. Therefore, this helmet can be placed in both an auxilia and legionary context.