Greek and Spartan Historical Helmets

The Greek city states which included Sparta had a very unique culture.  This included recognizable soldiers.  Their armor, weapons, and helmets are still admired and sought after by collectors, reenactors, stage plays, and historical enthusiasts.  Discussed below are some of the most popular helmet types that are most widely available today in online retail stores.

What do you think of when someone says “Greek Helmet”?  The first thing that pops into your head is a picture of a Spartan soldier, complete with a red cape, round, bronze shield, long spear, and a bronze or brass helmet with the ever-so popular plume.  Fortunately, stores have recognized this fact and this type of helmet is widely carried online and in brick-and-mortar stores.  Commonly names as the Italic Corinthian helmet or just plainly a Spartan helmet, this replica will be a great addition to your collection.  What you’ll most likely see are three types of helmets:  a brass helmet with tan or red plume, a black helmet with a tan plume, or a silver (plain metal) helmet with a tan plume.  Each of these will work just fine as a Spartan or Greek helmet.  However, you may be surprised to hear that none of these was historically the actual helmet common Spartan soldiers wore.  Most Spartans wore helmets that were quite plain and had no plume.  They were characterized by two long cheek guards and a slit in between them for breathing.  Though they were historically made out of bronze or brass, today’s replicas will be made out of steel or brass.

Another popular Greek helmet is the Hoplite helmet.  The Hoplite was a common soldier for the Greek armor and they carried the recognizable white round shield and a long spear.  They were excellent for repelling cavalry and charges by soldiers.  However, being not very maneuverable, they were vulnerable to attacks in the rear.  The hoplite helm is available today at many online stores.  It is a standard silver, made out of metal, and has a long tan plume.  There were many other types of specific Greek helmets, but these are the most common and basic used by the ancient armies.