[Regia-NA] The horror of horned helmets

[DON HARRINGTON]

Although this has nothing to do with Viking times, I found it fascinating.
In the March/April 2003 issue of Archaeology Odyssey, page 54, there are
images of twelfth century B.C. warriors with (you guessed it) horned
helmets.  There is a picture of two bronze figures where the helmets look
familiar, essentially a pointed cone with two horns attached, facing
slightly forwards.  There is also a picture of an engraving in which the
helmets look much more like WWII helmets, with the horns sitting on top.
(So much for consistency in iconic sources.)  The engraved figures are, of
course, carrying round shields.

These are identified as Shardana / Sardinian warriors.  With another sense
of déjà vu, they are described in Egyptian texts as fierce fighters and
acted as both mercenaries and pirates.

Don H.