A replica of the Brementennacum Parade Helmet, at its home in the Ribchester Roman Museum. The original was here a few years back, and I had the honor of seeing it, however last year it was passed back to the British Museum. The Ribchester museum only has this replica left.

The original helmet dates from between the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD. There was believed to be a model of a sphinx that could attach to the helmet that has since been lost.

This Helmet is one of the best finds from Roman Britain, beaten by the Vindolanda tablets, and was uncovered with 30 other cavalry related items, which were titled the Ribchester hoard. They were discovered by a 13 year old called John Walton in 1796, whom found it whilst playing in a hollow.The helmet is extremely fragile, made from thin bronze. Its quite impressive that its so in tact. Its in amazing condition.

The helmet is beautifully decorated with scenes of soldiers, be it fighting or training. There are also several soldiers on horseback featured on the helmet, which link it to the cavalry garrison that it belonged to. The mask has a youthful yet expressionless face, similar to other masks of its kind that have been discovered. The top of the helmet features a beautiful diorama of mythological beasts and figures.

These kinds of helmets offered no protection to soldiers due to their flimsy nature, and were instead used in parades, cavalry events and hippika gymnasia (horse tournaments) and were therefor only for aesthetic purposes.