East Greek Hoplite Aryballos
ca. 600&endash;570 BC
31-9-1
This little container, intended to hold perfume or scented unguents,
gives a naturalistic impression of a warrior´s face staring out
from behind his protective helmet. Compare this Ionian helmet type,
with its separately attached cheek pieces, with the bronze examples
(MS 1608, MS 1534).
H. 6.5; L. 6.0; W. 5.5 cm.
Photo courtesy Public Information Office, Univ. of Pennsylvania
Museum (larger
version)
The basic pieces of body armour were a shield
(hoplon, from which comes the name hoplite for the
Greek infantryman), helmet, cuirass or breastplate, and separate arm,
thigh, lower leg and foot protectors. As time went on, the arm, leg
and foot protectors were discarded in order to permit greater
mobility. The word for an individual soldier´s equipment of
weapons and armor is panoply. Made from a combination of
materials including iron and bronze, it could be very expensive
(costing as much as a modern car according to some
experts).
|
|
|
|
Bronze ´Piceno-Corinthian´ Helmet |
Bronze ´Corinthian´ Helmet |
