Militaria - further information

1. Standing bronze figure of the god Mars Ultor. Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. The god is depicted with his key attributes: a crested helmet, cuirass and greaves. Two further attributes, his spear and shield, are now missing. Dated 1st - 2nd century AD.

3. Bronze alloy, rectangular shield boss depicting Dionysos in high relief. The god is flanked by tendrils/scrollwork and he is carrying a fennel staff (thyrsos) and a wine jug (cantharos). Near the bottom rim, a lion and a plaque (tabula ansata), the latter possibly once carrying a dotted inscription (now unreadable). At present, only three complete rectangular shield bosses executed in this embossing technique are known. Dated ca AD 170-230.

4. Upper right corner of a bronze alloy, large, rectangular shield boss fragment. Decorated in low relief with a bacchantic mask in profile and a legionary military standard below. Evidence of surface tinning remains. Dated 170-230 AD.

6. Bronze alloy visor of a Heddernheim type helmet. The visor is decorated in high relief with wavy hair, the standing figures of two gods, Mars and Minerva and two birds possibly peacocks or phoenixes. Unlike full mask helmets, this visor would have kept the wearer’s nose/eyes and lower mouth unprotected by simply acting as a metal frame. It would have attached to the bowl of the helmet via a central hinge high up on top of the visor's rim. To provide additional defensive qualities (deflection), the lower rim of the visor has been bent outwards. Dated 175-230 AD.

7. Bronze alloy legionary helmet of the Montefortinpo-Buggenum type. It has a heavy bowl with crest knob and suspensions for two (missing) cheekpieces. This was the standard mass-produced helmet type for the Roman infantry from the 1st century BC. Dated 20 BC-20 AD.

8. Standing bronze figure of the god Mars Ultor with spear. Mars, son of Jupiter and Juno, was worshipped by soldiers in the army. The god is often depicted, as he is here, with his key attributes: a crested helmet, cuirass, greaves and spear. Dated 1st - 2nd century AD.

9. Bronze alloy armour plaque depicting a male bust in profile (possibly one of the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux or Ganymede) wearing a cap with an eagle crest. The object was cut/trimmed at the edges in antiquity is possibly part of a larger piece of decorated armour. Dated 200-230 AD.

12. Bronze alloy legionary infantry helmet cheek piece. In contrast to the full ear cover of cavalry helmet cheek pieces, this type has an open recess, as being able to hear commands was essential for the wearer in close formation warfare. Dated mid 1st century AD.

13. Bronze alloy legionary infantry helmet cheek piece. In contrast to the full ear cover of cavalry helmet cheek pieces, this type has an open recess as being able to hear commands was essential in close formation warfare. Dated mid 1st century AD.

14. Cavalry helmet cheek piece with decoration in high relief of a prince of the Julio-Claudian imperial family. The cheek piece is fashioned from a flat iron base and an embossed copper/bronze sheet. The stylized ear is typical for cavalry helmet cheek pieces. Dated first half of 1st century AD.

15. Cavalry helmet cheek piece with decoration in high relief of a bust of Minerva and an eagle. The cheek piece is fashioned from a flat iron base and an embossed copper alloy cover sheet. The stylized ear is typical for cavalry helmet cheek pieces. Dated mid-late 1st century AD.

16. Standing gilded bronze figure of the god Mars. The god is depicted naked, wearing a crested helmet with his right leg advanced. His right raised arm would have held a spear in an attacking position whilst the outstretched left arm would have held a shield. Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. Dated 1st - 2nd century AD.

17. Complete bronze alloy helmet of the Weisenau type with two punched ownership inscriptions 1: > SECVLI CIVILI 2:  . P . P  L . ATILI RVFI, as well as numerical mark IIII on the underside of the frontal protective bar. On top of the bowl, there are older imprints of three crest holder attachments/bases. The helmet does not feature any eyebrows or occipital steps on the back near neck guard. It belongs to a small group of "plain" legionary helmets, and best compares with a helmet dredged from the Rhine at Mainz. Dated mid-late 1st century AD.

18. Bronze figure of a sitting, bearded Mars wearing a cuirass and cloak. He is holding a parazonium type sword in his left hand and arm pit. The rear mounting, via a bolt, possibly attributes the figure being part of a larger scene including multiple figures, possibly a battle. Comparable pieces are also seen on pectorals of large Roman equestrian statues. The figure has its eyes inlaid in silver and the lips are inlaid in copper. Remnants on the cuirass indicate that most of the body armour was originally covered in a thin silver sheet. Dated mid-late 2nd century AD.

19. A Kalkriese type bronze alloy helmet face mask. The mask is an example of the earliest mask type used by the Roman cavalry from the time of Augustus. A very similar mask was discovered at the 9 AD site of Rome's defeat by Germanic tribes, in the so called "battle of the Teutoburg forest" in Northern Germany. This highly stylized mask carries unique features, such as the incised circular decoration on the cheeks and the stylized egg and dart motif around the edges. Dated 0-40 AD.

20. Cavalry helmet cheek piece with decoration in high relief featuring sideburns. The very large cheek piece is fashioned from a solid, embossed copper/bronze sheet. The stylized ear is typical for cavalry helmet cheek pieces. Dated second half of 1st century AD.

21. Bronze alloy cavalry helmet cheek piece with significant remnants of tinning on the surface. Dated early-mid 1st century AD.

22. Bronze alloy legionary infantry helmet cheek piece. In contrast to the full ear cover of cavalry helmet cheek pieces, this type has an open recess, as being able to hear commands was essential in close formation warfare. Dated mid 1st century AD.

23. Bronze alloy cavalry helmet cheek piece with significant remnants of tinning on the surface. Dated early-mid 1st century AD.