Helmet with mask
Silver and iron
50

This helmet consists of a visor to protect the face and a shell covering the rest of the head. It is made entirely of iron coated with silver except for the crown area, which was originally covered with fabric; the material has disappeared but the imprint of its fibres is visible in the rust. This luxury object, with il polished silver mask and finely sculpted diadem and rear peak, was probably used for parades. However, it was also made to be worn in battel, since there is a hinge above the forehead that attaches the visor to the helmet. As well, holes have been made under the eye openings so that the wearer could look down to see where he was going. The helmet must have belonged either to an Arab king of Emesa, or at least someone close to the king, since it was discovered in the city's royal necropolis. The Roman historian Arrian relates that the auxiliary cavalry of teh Roman army took part in tournaments in which the adversaries wore masked helmets. This helmet was probably made in the workshop of Antioch, wich were famous for their precious metal products. It is very likely that the silversmith modeled the mask's features to resemble those of the person who would wear it. The city of Emesa (present-day Homs) was very important in the Roman period, since it controlled a network of trade routes. The local dynasty that ruled the city and its territory no doubt profited greatly from this economic properity.

Homs, Ancient Emesa
25 x 20 x 20 cm
Nationa Museum, Damascus 7084
AAAS 2 (1952) 101-108; Syria 36 (1959) 184-192

_{© Musée de la civilisation, 1999}