The 9 Different Types of Roman Helmets (Galea)

PDF download Download Article
Ancient warfare expert Adam Godfrey shares the types of helmets worn by Roman soldiers
PDF download Download Article

Ancient Roman soldiers tend to be depicted with the same type of helmet in pop culture: a domed top, a bright red crest, and a nose guard. But how accurate is that depiction, really? In this article, we’ll give you a thorough introduction to the main types of helmets used throughout different eras of the Roman Empire—including what each helmet looked like and key features differentiating them. So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading to learn more about this iconic piece of gear used by Roman legionaries.

An Intro to Roman Army Helmets

Download Image
Download Image
An illustration of each Roman helmet type, with labels for each.

Ancient warfare expert Adam Godfrey says some of the most common Roman helmets include the Imperial Gallic and the Montefortino. Other early examples are the Coolus, Agen, and Port types. During the Late Roman Empire, soldiers wore ridged helmets like the Intersica, Berkasovo, and Spangenhelm types.

Section 1 of 3:

What is the Roman Helmet?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The legionary helmet or galea is a piece of armor worn by Roman soldiers.
    Roman legionary helmets took on different shapes and sizes over time, but many of their key features remained the same (or, at least, similar). They were historically made from iron, bronze, and other sturdy metals to withstand weapon strikes in battle, with more protective elements added over the centuries. Roman helmets often included the following components:[1]
    • Bowl: Most Roman helmets had a bowl-shape to protect the skull, roughly conforming to the shape of the head (sometimes with built-in ear guards, too).
    • Crest (crestum): A decorative feature made from feathers or horse hair. Crests were located at the top of the helmet, either longitudinally or transversally, often as a symbol of rank.
    • Cheek guards: Metal or leather plates—usually riveted or attached to the base helmet—that hung down on either side of the face, covering the cheeks and jaw.
    • Neck guard: A plate or piece of material extending over the back of the neck (and even the shoulders) to protect them from injury in battle.
    • Brow band: A band spanning the forehead to keep the helmet in place, preventing it from shifting around in battle.
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Types of Roman Helmet (Galea)

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Montefortino helmet
    The Montefortino style is one of ancient Rome’s earliest and longest-serving helmet types, derived from Celtic design. Montefortino helmets are characterized by their rounded (conical) shape, raised central knob at the top of the head, and protective cheek plates. They’re designed to deflect sword strikes and arrows, with protruding neck guards for added coverage.[2]
    • Time period: 4th century BC through the 1st century AD
    • Made from: Bronze (and occasionally iron). It’s possible the helmets’ cheek guards could’ve been made from a perishable material, like leather, as they’re often missing from surviving helmets.
    • The Montefortino helmet is named after Italy’s Montefortino region, where the first such helmet relic was discovered in a Celtic burial site.
  2. Step 2 Coolus helmet
    Rome’s Coolus helmet has both Celtic and Roman origins, co-existing with the Montefortino style. It features a plain hemispherical (domed) top with a brow guard, ribbed neck guard, and hinged cheek guards on either side. Additionally, the helmet’s cheek and neck guards protrude out toward the jaw for coverage without obscuring the wearer’s vision. These helmets can also feature a crest knob that’s been riveted or soldered on.[3]
    • Time period: 3rd century BC through the 1st century AD (around 79 AD)
    • Made from: Bronze or brass
    • The Coolus was particularly popular during Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars, which took place from 58 to 50 BC.
    • Because the Coolus and Montefortino helmets had a relatively simple design, the Romans could mass-produce them easily.
  3. Step 3 Agen helmet
    The Agen helmet style is often named alongside the Port (described below), and although the two are similar, their designs are distinct in a few different ways. The Agen helmet has Celtic origins; though only a few have survived, they’re characterized by rounded caps that cover the head with a double rim (like a bowler hat) and cheek guards riveted to either side of the helmet. It may have been favored by Gallic infantry soldiers.[4]
    • Time period: Around the 1st century BC through the 1st century AD
    • Made from: Iron
    • Ancient Celts were known for their skill in making iron helmets, which is why Roman helmets clearly borrowed so much from their designs.
  4. Step 4 Port helmet
    The Port helmet is similar to both the Agen and Coolus types, featuring a rounded skull cap to cover the head, a brow ridge (to break downward blows), and a rim, with the lower edge protruding out at the front, forming a peak. Additionally, the Port helmet has a separate neck-guard covering the nape of the neck and riveted to the rest of the helmet. Given its design, the Port helmet may have been worn by cavalry soldiers.[5]
    • Time period: Around the 1st century BC through the 1st century AD
    • Made from: Iron
    • The Port helmet’s main differentiating features from the Agen style are its larger neck-guard and relatively less pronounced brim.
  5. Step 5 Imperial Gallic helmet
    The Imperial Gallic helmet rose to prominence after Rome’s conquest of Gaul during the Late Republic period. A few different models of this helmet have been discovered, each with slightly different features, but generally, an Imperial Gallic helmet can be characterized by a pair of embossed eyebrows across the forehead area and ear guards (as well as a rounded top, protruding neck guard, and riveted cheek guards, much like its predecessors).[6]
    • Time period: The late 1st century BC through the early 2nd century AD
    • Made from: Iron
    • The Imperial Gallic helmet is actually a subtype of the “Imperial helmet,” with the other subtype being Imperial Italic helmets.
    • “Gallic” refers to the helmet’s main manufacturers rather than the people who wore it, as they were primarily developed by Celtic craftspeople in Gaul.
  6. Step 6 Imperial Italic helmet
    The Imperial Italic helmet lacks some of its Gallic counterpart’s sophistication; it doesn’t have embossed eyebrows, and earlier surviving examples are roughly-made compared to the carefully-crafted Gallic helmets. Over time, however, they grew more refined, and later surviving examples are just as well-made as an Imperial Gallic helmet. The Imperial Italic style is otherwise very similar to the Imperial Gallic, with a sloped neck guard, ear guards, and decorative trim.[7]
    • Time period: The late 1st century BC through the early 3rd century AD
    • Made from: Iron or bronze
    • “Italic” refers to the helmet’s manufacturers, who were primarily craftspeople in Italy and around the Roman Empire.
  7. Step 7 Intersica helmet
    The Intersica is a variant of the Roman ridge helmets used by the Late Roman army. It’s characterized by a rounded bowl-shape made from two half-skulls, joined by a longitudinal ridge (running from the forehead to the back of the head). The Intersica helmet also features a neck guard and cheek guards attached to the main helmet with a lining, and oval-shaped holes for the ears.[8]
    • Time period: Around the 3rd or 4th century AD, well into the 7th century (or even later)
    • Made from: Iron
    • As time went on, Roman helmets came to have fewer Celtic influences and more inspiration from Sassanid Persian designs. These Sassanid influences can be seen in Late Roman ridge helmets.
  8. Step 8 Berkasovo helmet
    The Berkasovo-type helmet is another variant of the Roman ridge helmet, like the Intersica helmets above. These helmets were extremely protective and decorative, featuring a bowl cap made from two to four different parts, a longitudinal ridge (running from the forehead to the back of the head), a heavy band curving over both eyes, large cheek guards, and a strong nasal guard. However, they didn’t have ear holes (unlike other Roman helmets).[9]
    • Time period: Around the 3rd or 4th century AD, well into the 7th century (or even later)
    • Made from: Iron, though they were often sheathed in a different metal (like silver) and decorated with other materials, such as glass gems.
    • Interestingly, a nasal guard—which is often associated with “stereotypical” Roman armor designs—isn’t found in Celtic-Roman helmets. This is just one way that Roman helmets influenced by Sassanid designs were distinct!
  9. Step 9 Spangenhelm
    Don’t let the German name fool you—the Spangenhelm was used by many European peoples. Another type of segmented helmet, like the Intersica and Berkasovo, the Spangenhelm consists of a conical (domed) frame that curves around the head and comes to a point. Other common Spangenhelm features include a nasal guard and attached flaps to protect the cheeks made from metal or leather, as well as mail to cover the neck.[10]
    • Time period: Around the 4th century AD into the 7th or 8th century AD
    • Made from: Iron, typically, although other materials (like leather, steel, or bronze) could also be incorporated.
    • The name “Spangenhelm” refers to the metal strips that create the helmet’s frame. Spangen roughly translates to “braces,” while helm means “helmet.”
    • The Spangenhelm was spread by Iranian tribes (including the Scythians and Sarmatians) into Western Europe, its design resembling Turkic-type helmets.
    10. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Roman Helmet Crests

PDF download Download Article
  1. Some soldiers’ helmets had crest-holders and crests.
    A helmet’s eye-catching crest could be made from feather plumes or horse hair. Roman helmets often had red fur, but a crest could be made with yellow, purple, or black colors as well (or even multiple alternating colors). Higher-ranking soldiers tended to have bigger crests; centurions (officers) likely wore them constantly in the early empire, while legionaries (Roman soldiers) only wore them occasionally.[11]
    • Certain Roman gladiators, including samnis and hoplomachus, probably wore feathered crests, too.
    • Some evidence suggests that legionaries wore theirs longitudinally (up and down the head), while centurions wore theirs transversely (across the head).

Want to save this article? Download it as a PDF.

The 9 Different Types of Roman Helmets (Galea)

Get the full formatted PDF you can save, print, or read offline. Anytime, anywhere.

One-time purchase

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Ancient Roman Soldier ArmorWhat Did Roman Soldier Armor Look Like?
Types of Medieval HelmetsA Complete Guide to the Different Types of Medieval Helmets & Helms
Types of GladiatorsA Guide to Every Roman Gladiator Type
Greek ArmorGreek Hoplite Armor & the Phalanx Formation, Explained
Gladiator WeaponsMost Popular Gladiator Weapons & Armor Used During the Roman Empire
Roman Formations7 Roman Battle Formations (+ Strengths & Weaknesses)
Germanic Swords14 Germanic Swords & What Made Them So Deadly
Types of SwordsDifferent Types of Swords & Their Uses
Ancient Greek WeaponsThe Powerful Weapons of Ancient Greece: Swords, Spears, Bows & More
Types of Daggers32 Influential Daggers Used Throughout History
Roman Military RanksRanks of the Roman Legion (From Legionary to Legate)
Melee Weapons48 Types of Melee Weapons from All Around the World
Medieval Armor Parts17 Parts of Medieval Armor & Their Names
Make a Roman Style Shield
How to
Make a Roman Style Shield
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.romanobritain.org/8-military/mil_roman_soldier_helmet.php
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070206051748/http://www.legiiavg.org.uk/articles/article_gallic_helmets.html
  3. ↑ https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10841/celtic-helmet-british-museum/
  4. ↑ https://a-r-m-e-s.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/476-227-234-Connolly.pdf
  5. ↑ https://a-r-m-e-s.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/476-227-234-Connolly.pdf
  6. ↑ https://www.romanobritain.org/8-military/mil_roman_soldier_helmet.php
  7. ↑ https://www.romanobritain.org/8-military/mil_roman_soldier_helmet.php
  8. ↑ https://www.persee.fr/doc/syria_0039-7946_1986_num_63_1_6923
  9. ↑ https://www.persee.fr/doc/syria_0039-7946_1986_num_63_1_6923
  1. ↑ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24685
  2. ↑ https://historycooperative.org/roman-helmet/

About This Article

Adam Godfrey
Co-authored by:
Adam Godfrey
Ancient Warfare Expert
This article was co-authored by Adam Godfrey and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Adam Godfrey is an ancient warfare expert based in Canada. With over 5 years of practical, hands-on experience, Adam is an author, hoplite reenactor, and the host of the YouTube channel Leonidas Sparta, which focuses on hoplite warfare. He shares his passion for ancient Greek history and features guest appearances from top experts in the historical field. His channel boasts over 54k followers, and his goal is to unite the practical and scholarly approaches to historical study. This article has been viewed 4,011 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 3
Updated: April 24, 2026
Views: 4,011
Categories: Ancient Roman Costumes
In other languages
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,011 times.

Did this article help you?

Advertisement