Sutton Hoo helmet, continued

Here is the reconstruction of what the Sutton Hoo helmet would have originally looked like. Impressive, isn't it? One pictures these early Germanic settlers, their still very pagan culture, and the riches of such items as this (which belonged to a king). Never mind the stereotypes about dull, fur-clad, ridiculous barbarians.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Sutton
• Hoo
• Anglo-Saxon
• Old
• English
• history

[varangian1081]

Saw it yesterday and was completely unimpressed, even with the reconstruction. This helmet would look simple and course when placed next to the late Roman pieces it is based on.

[aelfwine14]

@varangian1081: Then you have poor taste in artifacts. The Sutton Hoo helmet is a unique piece of craftmanship and artistic design. The Germanic design of the dragon or bird-crest, forming the eyebrows, the boar and serpentine ornamentations are distinctive from anything the Romans made. Out of that Germanic "style" this helmet is the premier, most exquisite example.

[aelfwine14]

It is not a question of whether it looks coarse (that is the correct spelling by the way, not "course") or simple compared to this or that type helmet; aesthetic merit of a cultural artifact is based on what it does uniquely, not in what ways it is similar to something else. Also: would you mind providing the archeological names, or image-links, to these superior Roman helmets? I'd like to see them and compare the Sutton Hoo helmet alongside them myself.

[aelfwine14]

Yes, it is very unfortunate -- digital camera, not much in the way of either quality or length. As for the exploring, I certainly did that. It's cool, isn't it?

[swylce]

Thank you 4 vids of Raedwalds helmet(if he's the A.S king buried there.)I wish someone would upload vids of the magnificent jewellery buried there,esp.the cloisonne shoulder clasps."Barbarian?!?" I think not...what an impressive sight he must have been,attired in his helmet&finery.

[varangian1081]

@aelfwine14 apologies for the typo, but that's all I'm apologising for. There are many easily found images of late Roman cavalry head pieces many of which I consider aesthetically superior to this 'anglo-saxon' helmet. That said much late Roman military equipment had a germanic context and as such I find all material of this period inferior to the earlier Imperial Gallic and Italic derived head pieces.

[acerb45666555]

The "Famous" sutton hoo Helmet!!! 13 seconds?? of tape! I would have done at least 10 minutes! and explored every inch of that helmet!