Question about Spartan's choice of helmet.

**Spoofa** · 07-26-2007, 22:03

Why do they use a helmet that doesn't protect the face? Wouldn't that be a primary concern with the phalanx? head protection? their pylos helmets don't seem to fit the job. Just a question

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · 07-26-2007, 22:05

Well, vision and hearing is also a concern. Something the old Corinthian Helm had almost none of...

**Slim_Ghost** · 07-28-2007, 17:50

The hoplites can just duck their heads behind their hoplons for protection.

**Larkaan** · 07-31-2007, 04:48

I actually just read something interesting about this from J.E. Lendon's excellent Soldiers and Ghosts, about Greek and Roman warfare.

Let me dig through the index and find that page again...

While the new style of conical helmet, called a pilos, was probably adopted to help the hoplite see and hear better, the Spartans enjoyed it because it allowed their opponents (and allies) to see how calm, unafraid, and collected they were marching into battle. Your typical hoplite from another city was likely nervous, if not scarred, or was otherwise building themselves up for the battle in some 'barbaric' means such as screaming their head off. Seeing these calm Spartan hoplites marching towards you in a solid formation was probably unnerving, while seeing them marching with you as an ally was likely quite the morale boost. The older Corinthian style helmets wouldn't have let you see that.

**geala** · 07-31-2007, 09:24

Ähmm, an interesting point of view...

In my obinion the pilos helmet was a child of the tactical and economical demands of the late 5th c. BC, esp. the second Peloponesian war. Longer marches, greater armies, long periods of war, shortage of money, more flexible tactics because of new threats by cavalry and light troops helped the introduction. The lightening or abandoning of body armour is connected with it. This and the pilos soon spread over the entire Hellas, to allow everyone to look in the calm and grim face of the particular enemy.

**Intranetusa** · 08-02-2007, 02:57

They were used most likely used because they were better for hearing and seeing...same with the post-Marian Roman helmets having a rounded hole over the ears for hearing their commander's orders.

**Jo the Greek** · 08-02-2007, 07:16

Spartiates also had a small dirk instead of using sword because they thought they use ti better in hoplites battles

**Slim_Ghost** · 08-02-2007, 09:41

Originally Posted by Intranetusa

They were used most likely used because they were better for hearing and seeing...same with the post-Marian Roman helmets having a rounded hole over the ears for hearing their commander's orders.

I agree about having to see, but about hearing I beg to differ.

I have read about this in a mag once, where a researcher set up mock battles between legionnaires in fully authentic Roman armor. The noise from the fighting is too loud for the legionnaires to hear the commander. The only possible way to direct order is by using banners (or the totem-like thingy with the eagle on top).

I still think that the helmets are designed to minimize the amount of iron used while at the same time provides the highest protection on the vital areas (the scalp and the back of the neck). The ear is not protected because the damage to the ear won't be fatal, and possibly won't be that much important since you can't hear anything in the midst of battle anyway.

**Andronikos** · 08-02-2007, 16:10

Hearing is important, e.g. battle of Gergovia

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 08-02-2007, 23:15

Originally Posted by Slim_Ghost

I agree about having to see, but about hearing I beg to differ.

I have read about this in a mag once, where a researcher set up mock battles between legionnaires in fully authentic Roman armor. The noise from the fighting is too loud for the legionnaires to hear the commander. The only possible way to direct order is by using banners (or the totem-like thingy with the eagle on top).

I still think that the helmets are designed to minimize the amount of iron used while at the same time provides the highest protection on the vital areas (the scalp and the back of the neck). The ear is not protected because the damage to the ear won't be fatal, and possibly won't be that much important since you can't hear anything in the midst of battle anyway.

The Romans used horn blasts to direct their soldiers, the very low notes carry over the noise of battle and the flanges on the IG helemets trap the noise and it reverberates inside your skull. Believe me, it works, apparently gives you a bit of a headache after the battle though.