The Armour of Ancient Greece

Corinthian Helmets

Pictured below are a selection of Corinthian Helemts that I have raised out of one piece of bronze or brass. This process is very time consuming, and a great deal of care goes into making these helmets. This particular style of Corinthian Helmet has a lot of subtle shaping in the various areas of of the helmet. They are carefully made to fit the measurements of the owners head. So, with all these factors in mind, these helmets are not cheap.

One Piece Bronze Corinthian
Price:$2000 in 18 gauge bronze
Price:$1950 in 18 gauge brass

One Piece Bronze Corinthian with 2 color Horsehair Crest
Price:$2000 in 18 gauge bronze
Price:$1950 in 18 gauge brass
Price for crest: $300

One Piece Bronze Corinthian with 2 color Horsehair Crest
Price:$2000 in 18 gauge bronze
Price:$1950 in 18 gauge brass
Price for crest: $300

Above is shown the first Corinthian Helmet that I made by raising. I raised most of this helmet, except for the 3 or so inches at the ends of the cheek pieces, which I brazed on. Below are a couple of pictures that show this helmet in the process of being raised.

If you are looking for a Corinthian helmet with a lower cost, there are other options. For example, there is a simple Corinthian Helmet which I saw in the British Museum, which you can see at the following website:

http://web.mac.com/lonniedcolson/iWeb/PassionForArmour/British%20Museum.html

It is the Corinthian Helmet shown in the center row just above the gladiator helmet. This simple Corinthian has a one piece top riveted to the cylinder of the helemt via internal splicing plates. For me to forge such a helmet would cost $450 in 18 gauge bronze and $400 in 18 gauge brass. Also, if you are interested in a type of Corinthian helmet that is not shown here, just contact me and we can work out pricing. If the helmet is one of the simpler types, it could bring down the cost a good bit.

Italo Corinthian
This is the somewhat later adaptation of the Corinthian Helmet popular in Italy. If forged the helmet bowl of two halves and brazed them together; I also brazed on the tail piece, and riveted on the cheekpiece hinges. The camera doesn't show some of the very fine detail, such as the etching of a she-wolf and a bull on the lower-front area of the helmet top. Price:$1800 in 18 gauge bronze
Price:$1750 in 18 gauge brass

Thracian Helmets

This Thracian Helmet is from around the 4th Century BC. It is made of 18 gauge bronze. The top is made of 2 halves (like the originals). The tail and brow-visor piece are forged of seperate pieces and riveted on, like the originals. There are many details that the camera doesn't pick up; such as twin apollo heads at each side of the brown reinforce piece, and an athena head in the center of the brow area. Price for the helmet: $2000
Price for the crest $300

Thracian Helmets

This Thracian Helmet is from around the 4th Century BC. It is made of 18 gauge bronze. The top is made of 2 halves (like the originals). The tail and brow-visor piece are forged of seperate pieces and riveted on, like the originals. There are fine details such as horned horses (taken from ancient greek coins) at each side of the brown reinforce piece, and a seated apollo in the center of the brow area. Price for the helmet: $2000
Price for the crest $300

The top, tail, and brim of this 4th century BC helmet are raised from one piece of 18 gauge bronze. The "phrygian cap" crest is a seperate piece rivetted on. The sculpted mask is of two pieces. Please note that the helmet and mask are sized for the customer, that's why they look a little big when I'm wearing them.
Price for this masked helmet: $3500

Medusa Greaves by Aurora Simmons

This section details the fine Medusa Greaves forged by my student, Aurora Simmons. Aurora researched and designed these greaves based on existing examples. A great amount of careful work goes into them, as shown in the photos below. Almost the entire surface of these greaves are shaped by raising, which is no easy task. The tapered shape, different for each leg, is carefully executed for a very close fit. The repousse sculpting of the gorgon faces and the muscle lines is quite a tricky task, executed while the greaves are in a 3 dimensional state. The greaves are made of 20 gauge sheet bronze, so that they are light and springy.
Price: $1700 for the pair.

About Aurora

Aurora is a native of Toronto, Canada, and a Graduate of George Brown's 3 year Jewelry Program. At Brown, Aurora was extensively trained in such discilpines as the casting of gold and silver, setting gems, and metal-forming techniques such as sinking, raising, and repousse. She makes all manner of fine jewelry, such as rings, bracelets and necklaces, and is quite skilled in silver-smithing hollow vessels as well. Aurora has been using these skills to help equip the Taxeis Platea, a Greek reenactment group founded by Christian Cameron. She has forged all manner of bronze accoutrements for authentic Greek hoplite shields (aspis). For years Aurora has built a large portfolio of chainmail garment and jewelry work, which she sells at shows in the Toronto area. Now Aurora is turning her extensive metalsmithing talents to forging authentic Greek armour, starting with Hoplite Greaves, as documented in the following pictures.

You can email Aurora directly at: auroracorialis@yahoo.ca

Back to Main Menu