Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Could the closed Greek helmet kill a warrior?

tom hyle · 30th May 2005, 08:08 PM

On the subject of hearing and signalling: Some ancient helmets were equipped with hearing ports, but some were not. It certainly can make a difference. Organization was typically by location/clan/etc. so all the people in a given unit dressed much alike, knew each other personally, and trained together, whether as professional soldiers or as militia men. Such a unit can seem to turn and maneuver like a school of fish, with no noticeable signals. Typically the armies were tribal, and the other tribe, their allies, your allies, etc. were all instantly recognizable by their clothing, appearance, equipment, etc. In Europe there was a custom of orienting to a flag bearer. But most signalling AFAIK in traditional European and African warfare was by horns and drums. The Bantus have languages for two-toned trumpets and drums that can be quite sophisticated (I am told). You may notice the bearing and winding of horns as a theme in ancient European stories from time to time. In peace they were used as hunting signals, and no doubt the hunting was part of the duty, delight, and training of early heroes and later noblemen.
Certainly the plate armoured, or even chainmailed warrior was always an elite warrior. In Attic Greece the warriors who wore the full helms were hoplites; free men, mostly landholders, who could afford a hoplon (giant hard-faced roundshield) and longspear, and usually a riding horse. All other equipment was usually optional to designation as a hoplite. Some cities/tribes and wealthy individuals would hire men and arm them as hoplites. The full helm was not universal among hoplites, although a helmet of some kind was AFAIK the next preferred piece of equipage, the sword or dagger being pretty much assumed.

30th May 2005, 08:08 PM	#35
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	On the subject of hearing and signalling: Some ancient helmets were equipped with hearing ports, but some were not. It certainly can make a difference. Organization was typically by location/clan/etc. so all the people in a given unit dressed much alike, knew each other personally, and trained together, whether as professional soldiers or as militia men. Such a unit can seem to turn and maneuver like a school of fish, with no noticeable signals. Typically the armies were tribal, and the other tribe, their allies, your allies, etc. were all instantly recognizable by their clothing, appearance, equipment, etc. In Europe there was a custom of orienting to a flag bearer. But most signalling AFAIK in traditional European and African warfare was by horns and drums. The Bantus have languages for two-toned trumpets and drums that can be quite sophisticated (I am told). You may notice the bearing and winding of horns as a theme in ancient European stories from time to time. In peace they were used as hunting signals, and no doubt the hunting was part of the duty, delight, and training of early heroes and later noblemen. Certainly the plate armoured, or even chainmailed warrior was always an elite warrior. In Attic Greece the warriors who wore the full helms were hoplites; free men, mostly landholders, who could afford a hoplon (giant hard-faced roundshield) and longspear, and usually a riding horse. All other equipment was usually optional to designation as a hoplite. Some cities/tribes and wealthy individuals would hire men and arm them as hoplites. The full helm was not universal among hoplites, although a helmet of some kind was AFAIK the next preferred piece of equipage, the sword or dagger being pretty much assumed.