| This helmet is based on illustrations from the Skylitzes Chronicle a Byzantine history of which a profusely illustrated copy is held in the Biblioteca Nacional of Madrid, and dated to the second half of the 12th century AD. There are no extant examples in the archaeological record, so this reconstruction is purely conjectural. |
|
| There have been |
| visitors to this site |
| Illustration from the Skylitzes Chronicle of Madrid, showing examples of the helmet |
| Byzantine Helmet 12th century AD |
| Back to Helmet Page |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The reconstructed helmet. It was made from a spun dome (helmet shell), though there is little evidence that the Byzantines had this technology. However, they were able to form a helmet from a single piece of steel, and this is a fairly valid shortcut, so long as it is finished correctly. The dome has been extended at the rear with the addition of a panel welded onto the back, to provide better neck protection, in line with the illustration. To finish, I took great care to grind away the concentric grooves that are such a give-away with most spun domes. |
| Rear view. The aventail is made of leather plates, arranged as edge-to-edge lamellar, upside down. There is evidence in the Skylitzes Chronicle for this usage. There is a tendency for this kind of aventail to be too stiff, forcing the helmet forward over the eyes, but this diminishes with use. |
| I have worn this helmet in combat many a time, and it is very easy to wear, providing good protection and comfort. The only drawback is the "peak" at the front, which tends to obscure your vision of a Big Axe (TM) coming down on your head from above. NOT a good thing. |