Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Galea

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

GAL'EA (κράνος, κόρυς, περικεφάλαιος). In its strict sense, this word was originally employed to designate a helmet of skin or leather, in contradistinction to cassis, which implied a casque of metal; but as the latter material was generally substituted amongst the Romans instead of leather as early as the time of Camillus, the original distinction was soon lost sight of, and the term galea came into common use, signifying any kind of helmet. (Isidor. Orig. xviii. 14. Ov. Met. viii. 25. Virg. Aen. v. 490.) The annexed illustration (Galea/1.1) presents the front and side view of an original Roman helmet of bronze found at Pompeii, in which city several others of similar form and character have been discovered. It contains all the parts usually belonging to the ordinary Roman helmet; the ridge at the top of the skull-cap, to which a crest of plumes or horse-hair was attached; a projection in front and at the back, to protect the forehead and nape of the neck; the cheek-pieces, by which it was fastened under the chin; and a perforated visor, which covered the entire face like a mask. The small ornament at the side of the head-piece, resembling a shell, was intended to hold a feather, in the same manner as shown by the figure s. SICARIUS.

2. The ordinary helmets worn by the Roman soldiers on the triumphal arches and columns, are of a more simple character, being smaller, and without visors, but with cheek-pieces, and in place of the crest, a knob or ring at the top, as exhibited by the annexed specimens (Galea/2.1), from the column of Trajan.

3. The helmets of the centurions had the scull-piece of a similar character to those of the soldiery, exhibited in the last woodcut; but were furnished with a ridge at the top, like that shown by the first woodcut, which was plated with silver, and adorned with dark plumes towering to a considerable height (Polyb. vi. 21.), and placed transversely on the ridge (Veg. Mil. ii. 16.), so that they drooped forwards all round, in the manner represented by the annexed engraving (Galea/3.1), from one of the slabs on the arch of Constantine, which originally belonged to the arch of Trajan.

4. The helmets of the generals and superior officers were more elaborately ornamented, and resembled the latter styles of Grecian helmet. They are seldom exhibited in sculpture or painting, as great personages are for the most part represented bareheaded.

5. Galea pellibus tecta. The standard bearers on the arches and columns are universally represented as Vegetius describes them (Mil. ii. 16.), with a close scull-cap, over which the head and skin of some wild beast is drawn, so that the face appears through the gaping jaws, and nothing of the helmet is seen, except the cheek pieces on the sides of the face; as shown by the annexed example (Galea/5.1), from the column of Trajan.

6. Galea venatoria. A scull-cap of leather or of fur, worn by huntsmen (Nepos, Dat. 14. 3.), like the examples s. CUDO and GALERUS, 1.

7. (αὐλῶπις). The old Greek helmet of the heroic ages was of a very different character to any of those yet described, being made with an immovable mask to fit the face, leaving only two holes for the eyes, so that when pulled close down, it entirely covered and concealed the visage, whence galeis abscondunt oras. (Sil. Ital. xiv. 656. Compare Stat. Theb. xi. 373.) The illustration (Galea/7.1) represents two helmets of this description, both from fictile vases; the one on the left drawn down over the face, the other as it was worn when pushed back, before or after an action.

8. The form last described soon fell into disuse on account of its inconvenience, and then the regular Greek helmets were constructed upon a model generally resembling the annexed examples (Galea/8.1), from fictile vases, and consisted of the following individual parts; — κῶνος (apex), the ridge on the top of the head-piece, to which the crest was affixed; λόφος (crista), the crest, consisting of horse hair, and sometimes two or three of these were worn, as in the right-hand figure; γεῖρον, a projection over the front of the face like a pent, sometimes moveable, but more usually fixed; παραγναθίδες (bucculae), cheek-pieces, attached to each side of the casque by hinges, and fastened under the chin by a clasp or a button; φάλος, a bright ornament, generally formed by some figure in relief, which was affixed to different parts of the helmet. In the right-hand figure the φάλος consists of two griffins, one on each side of the ridge; such a helmet was thence termed διφάλος: in other specimens the crest itself is supported upon a similar figure, in the manner described by Homer (Il. xiii. 614.), just under the plume; and sometimes they are seen projecting in very bold relief, over the front and round the sides of the casque, as in the colossal statue of Minerva, when the helmet was termed ὀμφίφαλος, and the φάλοι in such cases, when sufficiently large, would touch each other, as mentioned by Homer, Il. xiii. 132. Id. xvi. 216.

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  Galea/1.1
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  Galea/2.1
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  Galea/3.1
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  Galea/5.1
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  Galea/7.1
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  Galea/8.1