Named for the town where these helmets were first excavated, the Montifotino helmet was used by the Roman army around the 1st century B.C. These helmets featured a high crown and sometimes a cheek guard with a small knob on top of the helmet. This Roman helmet was first made of brass but evolved into a bronze helmet.
The Coolus helmet is similar in shape to the Montefortino the difference in these pieces of armor is the more flattened top of the Coolus. Another notable difference is the neck guard. The Coolus features a flat neck guard flaring out of the back of the helmet in contrast to sloping downward over the neck. The knob on top of the Coolus is fixed to the helmet after it is made contrary to being formed in one piece as with the Montefortino. The Coolus was also formed of bronze.
From the late 1st century B.C. to the 1st century B.C., Roman helmets were more decorated. During this period, the addition of embossed eyebrows and ear cutouts with separately attached ear guards for use during the battle were added. The Imperial Gallic helmet featured neck protection and two iron cross bars riveted in the skull of the helmet for additional protection. This helmet was typically made of iron.
The Italic style helmet was a slight improvement over the Gallic helmet. The reinforcing bars were made of steel, and the helmet was much more elaborate. Plume hooks, decorated neck and cheek guards completed the look of this Roman helmet.
Crests were made of stiff horsehair or feathers and could be attached back to front or transversely. The crest was a decorative attachment for the Roman helmet and could also signify rank. Early helmet styles such as the Montifortino had knobs on top of the helmet where crests could be attached.
