Origins
Around what year was the first recorded gladiator fight?
264 BCE
What is one main function of the helmet?
Protection
What is the main materials used to make helmets?
Bronze
When was our object- The British Museum Gladiator Helmet, made
1st Century CE
Mars, Nemesis, Hercules, Medusa, Minerva, Achilles
What were early gladiator fights originally used for?
Funerals / honoring the dead
What did helmets help the audience identify?
Type/Class of Gladiator
True or False, Closed Helmets were still breathable for gladiators.
False
True or False, This helmet was easy to see out of.
False
Which helmet had a fin on the top
Murmillo
What term was used for these early fights?
Munera
Did helmets purposely limit vision?
Yes
What technique was used to cast helmets
This helmet was derived from a military-style helmet used.
False- it was made to be more difficult to see
How long did it take to make a helmet about
2-4 weeks
How many people could the Colosseum hold at its peak?
50-80 thousand
What does “missio” mean
Mercy given after unmasking
About how many complete helmet examples have survived
30
Bronze is made out of what?
Copper and Tin
What moment changed how the crowd saw the fighter?
Removing the helmet
How many people could the Colosseum hold at its peak?
50,000–80,000
What was the cost of a bronze arena helmet?
A horse
Which gladiator had a fish-like crest helmet?
Murmillo
Where is our helmet from
Pompeii
Why did anonymity make fights more intense?
Less empathy, more aggression from crowd