Two South Italian Conical Helmets in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Conical Helmets
Greek, made in South Italy, 525-500 BC
Bronze
Piloi

Inventory # 83.AC.8.1-2

Shaped like a felt hat called a pilos, these two helmets were worn with the rim just above the eyes to provide basic protection for the head. The pilos helmet originated in Boiotia (central Greece) in the early fifth century BC, but it was adopted by soldiers throughout the Greek world, including those living in southern Italy.

Text from the Getty Villa museum label.