Product description
This is a replica of a Roman face mask, or larva mask, from the 1st century BC, discovered in Kalkriese. In the Roman army, certain soldiers wore larva masks in combination with helmets. Although depictions of Roman soldiers wearing masks are rare, it is believed that they were primarily used by cavalry officers and standard-bearers, such as the Signifer, Vexillarius, Imaginifer, and Aquilifer.
While larva masks may have provided some protection in combat situations, that was likely not their primary purpose. The masks were often modeled after legendary heroes of antiquity, such as Alexander the Great, reflecting the tradition of warbands that glorified individual acts of heroism and even deified warriors. Larva masks were typically made of iron or brass, and often silver-plated to give them a striking appearance. The wearer thus became not only unrecognizable but also a living embodiment of a hero, god, or mythical warrior.
This mask is made of 1.2 mm thick galvanized brass and can be easily mounted onto a helmet. It weighs 200 grams.
