Bishop, M. C./Rava, Giuseppe (Illustr.) Roman Cavalry Helmets

Roman cavalry helmets from the Republican period initially differed little from infantry helmets, making their identification a difficult but not impossible task. In this study, M.C. Bishop shows how changes in the Roman army under the Principate at the end of the 1st century BC, not least the incorporation of auxiliary troops, led to changes that soon distinguished the helmet types of the cavalry and infantry from each other. In particular, face mask helmets were introduced during the Principate, which were specifically designed for use in the hippika gymnasiums, a form of combined riding training and demonstration manoeuvres. As with Roman infantry helmets, contact with Eastern cultures led to the introduction of entirely new types of cavalry helmets. As this study shows, this simplified the manufacture of helmets and ultimately led directly to a variety of post-Roman helmet types, which have been found among Saxon and Viking warriors, among others. All of these types are described and illustrated in this work, which contains eight pages of specially commissioned colour illustrations. This up-to-date and accessible book draws on new finds and the latest research to trace the origins, development and legacy of the Roman cavalry helmet.