Master Armourer Chris Dobson

Murmillo Gladiator Helmet, 2nd Century AD

This murmillo gladiator helmet is based on heavy helmets in the British Museum and the John Woodman Higgins Armoury, dating from 2nd Century AD. It is made of brass, since modern bronze contains too much phosphorus, and analyses of non-ferrous Roman pieces is leading to their being catalogued as 'copper alloy': military pieces from the collection in Colchester Castle Museum have turned out to be brass, as much as bronze.

Helmets like this were sometimes fitted with a feather crest fitted into a recess in the centre of the crest box, and also pairs of side plumes rivetted to the skull above the brim.

Apart from a broad-brimmed helmet with a high crest, the murmillo class of gladiator was also equipped with defences for the right arm and left lower leg, a scutum based on military examples, and a short stabbing sword. These warriors were regularly pitted against the thraex, hoplomachus and retiarius.

Commissioned by a private collector, 1992-93.