These guys were tough as nails! And they did this with little to no visibility! The tourney helms were thick and heavy, and were intended to deflect a lance point at speed. Tourney knights may have donned colourful ribbons and head dresses for the tilt, but they were certainly not wussies. I could see their horses’ trappings fluttering as they came closer and closer and then the tremendous impact of splintered lances and shattered shields. Two knights in armour careening toward each other with their lances couched. From the time I was a boy, this is what I was drawn to. If gladiators were the entertainment of the Roman world, jousting was the equivalent of the Middle Ages. See You in the Lists! #9 – Jousting Helmet I’ve put it on this list for sheer interest’s sake.
This is a helmet of great antiquity that was worn by the heroes who fought beneath the walls of Troy in this most famous of wars. We’re talking about the (approximately) 12 th century B.C. We’ve all heard about the Trojan War, but the portrayals of Greeks and Trojans wearing Classical Age Corinthian Helmets is not exactly accurate. It isn’t made of iron or bronze, but rather of boar’s tusks that would have been sewn together over a skull-cap, or lining of some sort. My tenth choice on this list is one that you might not have expected to see. The Trojan War #10 – Mycenaean Boar’s Tusk Helmet So, here is my Top 10 list of favourite ancient and medieval battle helmets… However, despite the common usage of something to protect the head and face, the styles varied greatly over the ages, making for some magnificent pieces that were utilitarian and beautiful at the same time. Apart from Celtic warrior heroes, most soldiers and fighters wore a helmet into battle. If there is one piece that has been common to most ancient cultures, it’s the helmet. I was mesmerized by the images of broad swords and gothic armour, the shields, the lines, and the hack marks from various battles. I remember getting a used book called The Art of Chivalry, which I flipped through over and over again. Boys will be boys, and so it’s no surprise that this is what drew me into the ancient and medieval worlds in the first place.
Ancient Warriors – painting by Arturas Slapsys Some of the very first things that interested me in history as a young boy were weapons and armour.
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