Page 28 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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CE HOPLITE ARMOR AND WEAPONS
O 500 For four centuries from 700BCE, heavily armed citizen-soldiers

called hoplites (“armed men”) formed the armies of the Greek city-states.
Each soldier typically provided all of his weaponry and armor at his
ORDS T own expense: a bronze corselet (made up of a bell-shaped breastplate
and backplate), a helmet, greaves, a sword, a spear, and a large round
shield. Fighting in tightly packed phalanxes, the soldiers were very
well protected, although still vulnerable to spear-thrusts around the
groin and throat, or to wounds inflicted by missiles before they closed
AND SW in on the opposing army’s line.

TS ◀ CORINTHIAN HELMET
CHARIO Date Late 7th century bce
Origin Greece
Material Bronze
The Corinthian was the most
common form of hoplite helmet,
made from a single piece of
bronze. It protected the whole
head, with only a T-shaped
opening for the eyes, nose, and
mouth. An inner lining helped
cushion the wearer’s head.

Molding to represent
Cheek guard warrior’s muscles

▶ LATE CORINTHIAN
HELMET
Date 6th century bce
Origin Greece
Single bronze
Material Bronze piece forms helmet
▲ BRONZE CUIRASS
More developed Corinthian
helmets, such as this example, Date 8th century bce
had sharply angled side pieces Origin Greece
and thinner, more delicate Material Bronze
nose protectors with a more
pronounced neck guard. It is the The backplate of the hoplite
type of helmet most commonly cuirass was secured to the front
depicted on Corinthian vases. with hinges and rings for leather
straps. The front was molded
to the contours of the wearer’s
torso, suggesting that these
Shaped to fit cuirasses were probably crafted
contours of leg for individuals. Full plate cuirasses
fell out of fashion around 500bce.

◀ ATTIC HELMET
◀ BRONZE GREAVES
Date 5th century bce
Date 6th century bce
Origin Greece
Origin Greece
Material Bronze
Material Bronze
The Attic helmet was a further
development of the Chalcidian— While the hoplite’s thighs were
a type that had more rounded covered by his shield, the greaves
cheekpieces than the Corinthian. protected the knees and shins. The
However, the Attic gave lighter greaves were thin and shaped to
protection, with more space the wearer’s legs, allowing them
around the ears and hinged to be snapped into place without
cheekflaps. It was often decorated the need for straps or ties.
Hinged on the front above the forehead.
cheekflap