Phrygian helmets

[Fluvius Camillus]

Greetings!

I have just always wondered, since I've first seen them in RTW, why does the Phrygian helmet have this shape.

http://www.makedonia.com.fr/casque%20macedonien.jpg

(Picture taken from a website about Philip II, maybe interesting for our Makedonia fans if they haven't found this site yet: http://www.makedonia.com.fr/ANGLAIS/PAGE%20107.htm)

What was the purpose of this shape? And why do so many soldiers wield this (Pantodapoi Phalanghlitai, Karians etc...)? Is it because this shape has a big plus? Was it because they were produced so much? Is it a regional thing? Or a symbol of something. What strengths does this helmet have that I see it so much in EB? Does this helmet have advantages over the attic or the corinthian helmet?

http://www.300spartanwarriors.com/images/341_Corinthian_helmet.jpghttp://www.kultofathena.com/images/AH6062B.jpg
Corinthian..........................................................................Attic


Looking forward to replies!

~Fluvius

[Ghaust the Moor]

AFAIK it was based on the phrygian cap. This was a typical hat for the period. I guess just a cultural thing.

[Watchman]

Mostly because it looked cool, far as I know, although I imagine the raised crown is good for deflecting downward blows. "Also troops want loot and phat lewts," to quote someone.

[DaciaJC]

I recall reading that these helmets were a symbol for freedom or something of that sort. Likely yet another fallacy of RTW more than anything.

[Ghaust the Moor]

Oh, I remember now. It was a hat worn by the people of phrygia, but it spread to mainland greece quickly. A red one was given to freed roman slaves to show that they were free. I guess that is why it is a symbol of freedom. I guess the romans liked it too. It was supposadly worn during the french revolution to symbolize freedom.

[Apázlinemjó]

They wanted to look taller. :o

[Sabazios]

A red one was given to freed roman slaves to show that they were free.
I always thought that the one with the red hat was the leader :clown:

[Ghaust the Moor]

I always thought that the one with the red hat was the leader :clown:
What? :inquisitive:

[Celtic_Punk]

I think the helmet would deal with bludgeoning blows a whole lot better than the Corinthian helmet. And I don't think an axe could defeat the helmet, it would glance off the top (and you'd end up choppin' off his shoulder haha).

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

You can grasp it at the funny ding-dong that creeps out of the top, deprive the owner off the helmet and slap him in the face with it. Phrygian happy-slapping so to speak.

Good god, Phrygian helmets are the true reason why the Romans conquered the world: They just looked way cooler.

[Watchman]

I rather suspect an axeman would try to set his blow to come in at an angle so he has a close-to-optimal "angle of attack" when the blow hits, though.

It occurs to me the primary benefit was likely against missiles, which cannot be "adjusted" like that - the high narrow crown stands pretty clear off the head and would seem to provide incoming projectiles little but smooth dramatically angled surfaces to connect with, after all. And the head *was* the part of the body perhaps the most exposed to missiles above the height where shields were kept most of the time...

[Moros]

What? :inquisitive:
Never heard of The Smurfs?

[Ghaust the Moor]

Never heard of The Smurfs?

Ohhhh, yeah. I don't watch the show so I don't know what they say.

[Drewski]

I always thought that the one with the red hat was the leader :clown:

My thoughts exactly ~;)

http://www.coolbh.com/benister/images/smurfs.bmp

EDIT: They say stuff like "All Hail Makedonia" in a squeaky voice....

[Maion Maroneios]

:laugh4: OK, this whole Smurf-thing made me laugh. Oh, and I agree that Phrygian helmets look cool.

Maion

[antisocialmunky]

... Someone needs to make Smurfoi Phalangites ...

I was always under the impression that it was easier to construct a cone as well as the cone adding a crumple zone on overhead attacks.

[Celtic_Punk]

If someone changes levy phalangites to smurfoi, i will be able to die a happy man.

[Aemilius Paulus]

I recall reading that these helmets were a symbol for freedom or something of that sort. Likely yet another fallacy of RTW more than anything.
Huh? Are you serious, or being sarcastic? French Revolution.
http://www.detectiveclub.info/Phrygian_cap.jpg

[Cute Wolf]

Papa Smurf (PS): Hey lads... the nearby Basileus just ordered us to join his mighty army...
All Other Smurf (AOS): Oh well papa... we will gladly join them...
PS : Here's your weapon... the dreaded sarissas of the Hellens...
AOS : Wow.... that was 30x of our size.... most of us could't even hold it...
PS : well... I will write a letter to ask those Basileus.. can we cut off the spear to match our size?
.
. (a week after)
.
PS : the Basileus just give us a new, shorter spear... that match our size....
Smart Smurf : But Papa... this was somethiing they called 1 m pencil...

[antisocialmunky]

http://www.sparehed.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/smurfs-wars-hefty.jpg

[Aemilius Paulus]

http://www.sparehed.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/smurfs-wars-hefty.jpg
Umm, edit please? A link would be more useful :beam:. Anyway, kudos to the site for being so clever. Then again, darn them for not automatically linking that sign to the actual picture, so people would be able to visit the site.

[Ibrahim]

Umm, edit please? A link would be more useful :beam:. Anyway, kudos to the site for being so clever. Then again, darn them for not automatically linking that sign to the actual picture, so people would be able to visit the site.

oh, come on AP, its not too difficult to access the picture:clown::


EDIT: ok...apparently the link doesn't last long. here is what you do:

1-right click the image antisocialmonkey's picture tab. click "properties"
2-copy the URL there, and put it in the explorer's adress tab.
3-should work then I hope: you should see a smuflike being (blue), with a heart shaped tattoo on his arm, a little smurf arrow on that, some blood dripping as a result of said arrow, and the blue guy holding a sword.

[DaciaJC]

Huh? Are you serious, or being sarcastic? French Revolution.


A very poor attempt at sarcasm, yes.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

No helmet is complete unless it has a mail aventail and\or complements for coverage. Mail is kewl, the more the better.

http://therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1103.jpg

... Or if doesn't cover the whole head. Maybe that's why I find Ancient Warriors, in comparison to Western Medieval ones, awfully unprotected and full of soft spots. I suspect Romans did not even wear decent padding beneath their mail, which is a deplorable thing and essentially makes the whole mail pointless. A light, thin outfit does not count as it :smash:.

Back to the subject, has anyone realized a certain phallic symbolism with the helmet design? In a non-derogatory way, of course.

[antisocialmunky]

I dunno what you're smoking but many other civilizations especially in the east where more advanced metallurgy was creating better weapons (China and India) had their own heavy armor types during certain periods.

Though you have to remember that you're not going to give troops more armor then they actually need. It just have to be able to protect them from the expected threats.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

I know it, in fact we have pretty well armoured types from the period. And I wasn't talking about heavy armour per se (mail, especially rivetted mail, is fine), but about armour coverage and certain details like padding.



Though you have to remember that you're not going to give troops more armor then they actually need. It just have to be able to protect them from the expected threats.

Well, even a high\later man-at-arms carried a crapload of armour. Usually a full mail hauberk, covering every spot, or plate.

A legionary however only has an open helmet and a shirt of maille; not especially effective, considering the amount of unprotected spots (like the limbs). But then quantity and massed shielded formations were better valued, therefore making it a bit irrevant... I think mail shirts only became larger during the later Empire.

[Watchman]

...though one does recall that until the environs of mid-1100s or so even heavy cavalry could boast little but a mail hauberk (or shirt for the poorer ones) plus simple conical helmet with aventail.

Worked pretty well nevertheless.

[Ghaust the Moor]

A very poor attempt at sarcasm, yes. Are you talking about me being sarcastic? Cause if you are, I wasn't being sarcastic. It's true, The french wore really horrible looking fake phrygian caps. Look your facts up before you tell someone they are wrong.

[Fluvius Camillus]

Wow a lot of comments in so few time!

I thougth they were rather funny, when I first saw the helmets they made me think about clowns:clown: But as I make up about it, it is more of symbolic value than actual effective protection.

Nice one about the big smurf, made me laugh! I am waiting for the Smurfoi Phalanghlitai...:clown:

[Apázlinemjó]

Smurfoi Phalanghlitai, the ultimate infantry with AP look!

[Ludens]

... Someone needs to make Smurfoi Phalangites ...


If someone changes levy phalangites to smurfoi, i will be able to die a happy man.

Introducing: Mod: Total Mod (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=57615)! (Scroll down to post 24.)

[Fluvius Camillus]

Hahahah, awesome!:laugh4:

Thank you Ludens, it really made me laugh.

Phrygian helmets and smurf caps look so alike... no way that it is coincedence...:laugh4:

~Fluvius

Edit: Also the Smurfic heavy cavalry and smurfic pre-bartixian chariot, hilarious! Sad to know these posts date from 2005, and the mod is probably abandoned

[DaciaJC]

A very poor attempt at sarcasm, yes.

Huh? Are you serious, or being sarcastic? French Revolution.
I recall reading that these helmets were a symbol for freedom or something of that sort. Likely yet another fallacy of RTW more than anything.

And then you said


Are you talking about me being sarcastic? Cause if you are, I wasn't being sarcastic. It's true, The french wore really horrible looking fake phrygian caps. Look your facts up before you tell someone they are wrong.

I'm not entirely sure why you decided to become involved. Do please read the entire thread before claiming that someone has just maligned you.

[Ca Putt]

Sorry i just could not resist :D

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/picture.php?albumid=196&pictureid=1511 I know it's poorly textured but Photoshop was open and I could not resist the urge :D

[Sabazios]

Sorry i just could not resist :D

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/picture.php?albumid=196&pictureid=1511 I know it's poorly textured but Photoshop was open and I could not resist the urge :D
hahaha nice :2thumbsup:

[Fluvius Camillus]

Awesome! It looks good enough for me, good job!

Now lets try to get back to topic:sweatdrop:

:focus:

~Fluvius

[Watchman]

I was always under the impression that it was easier to construct a cone as well as the cone adding a crumple zone on overhead attacks.Not entirely sure what you mean here, but AFAIK the Phrygian helmet was pretty tricky to manufacture - which is why there was also a "cheat" version, where the particularly tricky curved peak was simply made in two halves and then attached to the rest of the helmet.

[mcantu]

anyone else notice a certain...phalic quality here?

http://www.300spartanwarriors.com/images/341_Corinthian_helmet.jpg

[Maion Maroneios]

Actually, I've noticed the phallic shape of Corinthian style helmets... Coincidence? :clown:

Maion

[Ghaust the Moor]

And then you said



I'm not entirely sure why you decided to become involved. Do please read the entire thread before claiming that someone has just maligned you.

I'm sorry. I got confused. You said freedom, then I mentioned the french revolution. I thought you were talking to me despite you having quoted the other person. I apologize.

[DaciaJC]

No problem, mate. :2thumbsup:

[antisocialmunky]

Metal Penis Hat

Did the Greeks circumcise each other because that looks quite that way.

[Watchman]

Cannot unthink. Must bleach brain. :skull:

[Ibrahim]

Did the Greeks circumcise each other because that looks quite that way.

no-they didn't.

civility only goes far:clown:

jk-I dont care too much.

[mountaingoat]

the ancient god Mithras is seen wearing the cap , and it appears all over in french national and american symbols .. there is probably much more to it.

[abou]

the ancient god Mithras is seen wearing the cap , and it appears all over in french national and american symbols .. there is probably much more to it.

http://utpress.org/a/searchdetails.php?jobno=T00841

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

American culture is as distant from Hellenism and Classical Civilization as our sun is from the center of the Milky Way. Many similarities are indeed, merely superficial.

[mountaingoat]

just pointing out some links between empires , though take it anyway you want :)

[abou]

American culture is as distant from Hellenism and Classical Civilization as our sun is from the center of the Milky Way. Many similarities are indeed, merely superficial.No, they are not. Please, see the post above or use this link learn where you can find out more: http://utpress.org/a/searchdetails.php?jobno=T00841

[mountaingoat]

some images

http://www.antiquities.net/Mithras.jpg

http://www.languedoc-france.info/06live/senateseal.gif

http://www.languedoc-france.info/06live/libertywithcap.jpg

http://www.languedoc-france.info/06live/envelope.jpg

http://www.languedoc-france.info/06live/rep_fr.gif

http://www.languedoc-france.info/06live/paraguayseal.gif

http://www.languedoc-france.info/06live/rpr_old_logo.gif

http://www.languedoc-france.info/06live/argentina_coa.gif

http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/images/armyseal.jpg

most taken from here http://www.languedoc-france.info/06141204_libertycap.htm , found this page when looking up more info about the cap being used.

[Celtic_Punk]

on the subject of helms. The skullcaps of the Spartans... I was sure they wore Corinthian style helmets like the one mcantu posted.


I found a picture that shows the Spartans taking the Ackropolis in Athens. They all are wearing the same type of helmet not a skullcap. (yes this is not hard proof)
http://espartano.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/wgo-901.jpg


here's another - http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/PODP/10259~The-300-Spartans-Posters.jpg


I thought they wore helmets like that as apposed to skullcaps. they seem much more romantic looking anyway. and much more fearsome.

[A Very Super Market]

They did. Back in the greco-persian wars.

[Celtic_Punk]

what about afterwards? they just decided "Oh well despite the extra protection to my face that this helmet affords me, despite the fact that we've used this helmet for so long... I'll just use this shitty skullcap instead"

was there a real reason for some sort of switch?
like lack of funding or something? but by that time they must have had an abundance of bronze helmets. And they must have not had as large an army as they did in past, IIRC, so producing more and more new helmets must not have been a big concern.

[Fluvius Camillus]

Wow I never noticed how widely spread the Phrygian freedom symbol is!:dizzy2:

[mountaingoat]

what about afterwards? they just decided "Oh well despite the extra protection to my face that this helmet affords me, despite the fact that we've used this helmet for so long... I'll just use this shitty skullcap instead"

was there a real reason for some sort of switch?

could of been due to a number of things .. though i am sure there would of been a few that still wore this style of helmet .

some possible points for the change .


-decline in funding for the spartan military (new helmets could of cost much less to produce?)

-a change in the traditional style of warfare the spartans were renown ( change in tactics , lighter armor )

-they might of had their older style of helmets produced by another city state (whom no longer produced that type of armor due to a change of warfare tactics in the surrounding areas.)

there is probably many more reasons or an exact reason that someone has documented .. i do recall that the spartans kept making their swords smaller and smaller until they almost resembled daggers .. the style of warfare was changing especially that of the traditional spartan hoplite .. with that comes different tactics / styles .

[SwissBarbar]

what's a skullcap?

[Celtic_Punk]

a helmet that only covers the top of your skull, going no lower than your eyebrows

a metal toque if you will

[SwissBarbar]

ah, thanks

[antisocialmunky]

what about afterwards? they just decided "Oh well despite the extra protection to my face that this helmet affords me, despite the fact that we've used this helmet for so long... I'll just use this shitty skullcap instead"

was there a real reason for some sort of switch?
like lack of funding or something? but by that time they must have had an abundance of bronze helmets. And they must have not had as large an army as they did in past, IIRC, so producing more and more new helmets must not have been a big concern.

Changes in the Greek way of war to have a more pronounced emphasis on command & control, missile units, and mobility(to counter missile units).

The Corinthian Helmet is crap for situational awareness - its fine if you're in a phalanx with no other purpose than going forward but if you're going to do complex maneuvers that requires actually hearing orders or actually being able to keep track of enemy units... well you're out of luck.

I personally like the Attican helmet more.

[Ghaust the Moor]

The "skullcap" is a pylos helm

[samba_liten]

on the subject of helms. The skullcaps of the Spartans... I was sure they wore Corinthian style helmets like the one mcantu posted.


I found a picture that shows the Spartans taking the Ackropolis in Athens. They all are wearing the same type of helmet not a skullcap. (yes this is not hard proof)
http://espartano.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/wgo-901.jpg


here's another - http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/PODP/10259~The-300-Spartans-Posters.jpg


I thought they wore helmets like that as apposed to skullcaps. they seem much more romantic looking anyway. and much more fearsome.

"The phalanxes of other states often broke into a shambling run before contact, overwhelmed by the excitement of danger, so ruining the dressing of their ranks. The Spartans,
by contrast, advanced to the tune of pipe players, a practice intended “to
remove anger from the warriors,” and proceeded at a walk, “without a
gap in their lines, and with no confusion in their spirits, calmly and cheerfully,”
without “excessive fear or passion.” It makes sense in this context
that when Greeks abandoned the all-concealing Corinthian helmet in
the fifth century, it was the Spartans who adopted the most revealing
helmet of all, the conical pilos." (Soldiers and Ghosts by J. E. Lendon)

He argues that the most important thing for a hoplite warrior was to keep his place in the formation; that combat in ancient Greece was in fact a sort of machismo competition, or chicken race. He who blinks first looses.

[Watchman]

One also suspects the Corinthian helmet was a bitch to breathe in.

[Celtic_Punk]

thats true. unless you breath through your nose. Still I think its a much cooler helmet.


thanks samba_liten for your enlightening post.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Also I would imagine dying from heatstroke pretty soon in that deadly climate down there. :tongue2:

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

One also suspects the Corinthian helmet was a bitch to breathe in.
I think it was better to issue orders and have your soldiers hear them with a more open type of helmet. Closed helmets are generally only used by certain elites, or in certain situations; hoplite warfare was pretty much different from organized warfare of the latter centuries, so that's why expensive equipment might have been favoured.

[geala]

The answer is already given imho. It was a common habit for the Greeks to form metal helmets after soft caps and hats. So we got the Pilos helmet (used by the Spartans but also many other poleis) after the Pilos felt cap, the petasos wide brimmed helmet after the petasos sun/rain hat, the Boeotian open helmet after a bowler hat style felt hat. We even have examples of a Greek bronze helmet which looks exactly like a modern (ok, not so modern) south German or Austrian hat (Tirolerhut, looks a bit like a very small brimmed Stetson hat), because the Greeks used similar felt hats. So they formed the Phrygian helmet after the Phrygian cap.

All other is too much rationalising. The benefits of the Phrygian helmet could have also be achieved with other, simpler constructions. It's just fashion.

[Fluvius Camillus]

Picture taken from Reign of Ares EB unofficial minimod, this might help:

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3383/helmetstylesrx0.jpg

Edit: I also wondered whats with the Etruscan helmet, I always thougth that they didnt pull their corinthian-like helmet down but its actually ment to be worn that way I see...

~Fluvius

[antisocialmunky]

yeah, the pimping awesomeness of the Corinthian aesthetic but actually useful in that day and age.

[geala]

I don't want to be overly hair splitting, but it's a Pilos helmet, not a Pylos. ~;)

[Maion Maroneios]

Nope, its Pylos alright.

Maion

[Dutchhoplite]

Pylos or Pilos, both are correct.

[Fluvius Camillus]

Yesterday I have seen a documentary about Mycene and the Trojan Wars. I have seen a Corinthian helmet designed so it does not cover your ears, armouring you, but still able to hear orders and perform tactical maneuvres.

~Fluvius

[Dutchhoplite]

Trojan wars and Corinthian helmets??

Hmmm :inquisitive:

[Watchman]

Anachronism Stew (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Laconic/AnachronismStew).

Also I blame wanting to look kewl.

[Celtic_Punk]

3 down 2nd from the left. that helm is tits.

[Fluvius Camillus]

Trojan wars and Corinthian helmets??

Hmmm :inquisitive:

Sorry my bad

I watched History: Ancient Discoveries...

I guess I really have to give up on tv-documentaries..:no:

~Fluvius

[Nachtmeister]

3 down 2nd from the left. that helm is tits.

Top, 3rd from the left for me.

The pseudo-corinthian helms on the lower right are the most horrific [insert any curse inappropriate to the forums here] I've ever seen. They may have been a result of gusto back then, but they cause disgust in me. Yukh.

Technically, a Corinthian helmet is best suited for 1 on 1 combat or frontal combat but miserable when you want to co-ordinate. Even a modern kevlar helmet is both bad for hearing AND, more importantly, for getting a message out. You can scream and yell all you want, when you are wearing a helmet at all you will be somewhat muted. If it even covers your face, forget it - compare to NBC-facemasks. Hearing range ~15m if everything else is really quiet. ~5m in a city with normal automobil traffic. ~.5m (if at all) on a battlefield with steel banging against steel. Anyone who has ever worn one will concede this point.
Very bad if you must adapt entire battleplans quickly.

[Ghaust the Moor]

3 down 2nd from the left. that helm is tits.
Im gonna have to say the one dircectly above the "corin" in corinth.

[antisocialmunky]

I like the Thracian, very practical looking and keeps the sun out of one's eyes.

[Ghaust the Moor]

I have always had a facsination for the corinthians with the sideways broom

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Most of these helmets are horrible. I hate the Etrusco-Corinthian, the Phrygian and the Corinthian ones.

Personally I'd only wear the Thraikian at the bottom left.

[russia almighty]

Wait, wasn't there some sort of proto-Corinthian helmet during the period we believe the Trojan war happened?

[Celtic_Punk]

Top, 3rd from the left for me.

The pseudo-corinthian helms on the lower right are the most horrific [insert any curse inappropriate to the forums here] I've ever seen. They may have been a result of gusto back then, but they cause disgust in me. Yukh.

Technically, a Corinthian helmet is best suited for 1 on 1 combat or frontal combat but miserable when you want to co-ordinate. Even a modern kevlar helmet is both bad for hearing AND, more importantly, for getting a message out. You can scream and yell all you want, when you are wearing a helmet at all you will be somewhat muted. If it even covers your face, forget it - compare to NBC-facemasks. Hearing range ~15m if everything else is really quiet. ~5m in a city with normal automobil traffic. ~.5m (if at all) on a battlefield with steel banging against steel. Anyone who has ever worn one will concede this point.
Very bad if you must adapt entire battleplans quickly.

thats why you discuss your battle plans with your captains and lieutenants before the battle. Once the lines engaged there was little one could to with manoeuvring men already engaged.

bad hearing in combat today is common place. complex hand signals denote more complex manoeuvres.
Once the shooting starts getting men's attention is usually done by moving up behind them and tapping them on the shoulder. then moving up the line gathering men to move out. combo's of handsingals and verbal commands are usually used however. Yah gotta scream to get the message out.

Our field manoeuvres teach us this. The thing is unless somoene is puttin rounds downrange with a C9 you can hear eachother pretty well. C7's and C8's don't make nearly as much noise as our machineguns. and the enemy's rifle fire isnt going to be THAT loud usually (most engagements are 100+ metres) so unless you are in a urban environment with large buildings (reverberation of the round's firing will blow your eardrums... refer to the movie heat!) you will only have a problem with the pop's from their rounds hitting your cover. which make a very loud SNAP noise. Communication isn't actually that hard. We've been perfecting it for yeaaaars. Communicate inbetween machinegun bursts.

[antisocialmunky]

Don't forget hand signals.

[athanaric]

The pseudo-corinthian helms on the lower right are the most horrific [insert any curse inappropriate to the forums here] I've ever seen. They may have been a result of gusto back then, but they cause disgust in me. Yukh.


Funny, I had a similar thought. Besides, a helmet has to be practical first and foremost. After all, your life is at stake on the battlefield. In this situation, choosing some silly "fashionable" design over practical stuff like Attic or Thracian helmets is somehow retarded.

[geala]

Nope, its Pylos alright.

Maion

Hehe, this is one of the most important questions ever discussed on the forum and has to be pushed further. :beam:

To be honest: As you seem to be a Greek (?), could you explain it further? I never read a -reliable- book in which the helmet is named "Pylos helmet".

Of course we don't know how the ancient Greeks named the helmet. But "ho pilos" is the ancient Greek word for "felt" and further "made of felt", "felt cap", "felt armour". Because the conical cap was presumably made of felt and perhaps first worn under a helmet, we name the bronze helmet that was made after its shape a "Pilos helmet"

"He pyle" means "gate", "ho pylos" means "gateway". Pylos was also a town in Messenia. I don't see any sense to name the helmet after any of these. Is "pylos" the same as "pilos" in some Greek dialect? Even if so I would remain with the usual "pilos".

BTW, attached is a picture of the trial to reconstruct a Pilos felt cap.

[Maion Maroneios]

Well, I may be Greek, but Ancient Greek is a subject far from what I have chosen (Physics). I only know that there is a town named Pylos that was under Spartan rule and that "pyle" means gateway (but that is feminine, so I don't really think it has anything to do with a hat/cap/helmet whatever). So I cannot give you any concrete answer on this subject, I'm afraid.

Maion