Pages: 283-300

The author studies Roman female face-mask helmets, based on the analysis of all available examples and their decoration, which find parallels in the Roman portrait art. There were three groups of female face-mask helmets. The first group represents the Amazons and these masks were used in amazonomachy. The second group shows the image of Mater castrorum (“Mother of camps”). The third group includes masks representing the Gorgon, the purpose of which was to terrify the enemy.

Keywords: face-mask helmets, defensive armour, Amazons, mater castrorum, Medusa, hippika gymnasia, ceremonial helmets

Information about author:

Andrey Negin (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). Candidate of Historical Sciences. N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod.
E-mail: [email protected]