Ribchester Helmet
Ribchester Helmet | |
---|---|
Material | Bronze |
Size | Height: 276 mm Weight: 1305.6 g |
Created | Roman, late 1st to early 2nd century AD |
Discovered | By son of Joseph Walton, clogmaker, in 1796 |
Place | Ribchester, Lancashire |
Present location | Room 49, British Museum, London |
Registration | 1814,0705.1 |
The Ribchester Helmet is a Roman bronze ceremonial helmet dating to between the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD, which is now on display at the British Museum.[1] It was found in Ribchester, Lancashire, England in 1796, as part of the Ribchester Hoard. The model of a sphinx that was believed to attach to the helmet was lost.[2]
Description
The helmet was impractical for protecting a soldier in battle. The helmet was intended for displays of elite horsemanship known as hippika gymnasia or cavalry sports.[citation needed]
Provenance
The helmet was part of the Ribchester Hoard, which was discovered in the summer of 1796 by the son of Joseph Walton, a
The helmet and other items were bought from Walton by Townley, who lived nearby at
In addition to the items purchased by Townley, there was also originally a bronze figurine of a sphinx,[2] but it was lost after Walton gave it to the children of one of his brothers to play with.[5] Thomas Dunham Whitaker, who examined the hoard soon after it had been discovered, suggested the sphinx would have been attached to the top of the helmet, as it has a curved base fitting the curvature of the helmet, and has traces of solder on it.[6] This theory has become more plausible with the discovery of the Crosby Garrett Helmet in 2010, to which is attached a winged griffin.[7]
Importance
Only three Roman helmets with a covering over the face have been found in Britain. Prior to the 2010 discovery of the Crosby Garrett Helmet and the 1905 discovery of the Newstead Helmet this helmet was described as the highest quality helmet found.[citation needed] The Ribchester helmet was found corroded but, like the Newstead helmet, largely complete, whereas the Crosby Garret helmet was found in 67 fragments.[8]
It is known that these helmets were used for display because of accounts left by
The helmet was voted Britain's "second best Roman find", behind the Vindolanda tablets, according to a web site poll by the Channel 4 television programme Time Team.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Cavalry sports helmet". British Museum. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
- ^ a b Clarke, Stephen Reynolds (1830). The new Lancashire gazetteer: or, Topographical dictionary. H. Tessdale and Co. p. 146.
- ^ a b c Baines, Edward; Whatton, W. R. (1836). History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster. Fisher, Son and Co. p. 20.
- ^ "Biographical details of Peregrine Edward Towneley". British Museum. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ Smith, Thomas Charles (1890). The history of the parish of Ribchester, in the county of Lancaster. Bemrose & sons. p. 35.
- ^ Watkin, William Thompson (1883). Roman Lancashire: or, A description of Roman remains in the County Palatine of Lancaster. p. 154.
- ^ Jackson, Ralph (9 September 2010). "Roman Cavalry Sports helmet from Crosby Garrett, Cumbria" (PDF). Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ Pett, Daniel (13 September 2010). "Exceptional Roman cavalry helmet discovered in Cumbria". Portable Antiquities Scheme. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
- Daily Telegraph. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ Big Roman Dig[dead link], Channel 4, Time Team, accessed September 2010
Further reading
- Jackson, Ralph & Craddock, Paul T. (1995). "The Ribchester Hoard: A Descriptive and Technical Study". In ISBN 1-900188-00-7.