Helmets -Marian / Late Republic Roman Legionaries, and EIR Auxilia

[Martin Smith]

Little debate ongoing on another forum...

Was the late Republican Roman helmet bronze?

And early Empire, 1st century AD, were auxilia in bronze helmets, legionaries in steel?

That's what I gleaned from AEIR, but wondered if it had been changed through more recent research.

[Duncan Head]

Late Republican helmets were mostly bronze Montefortino and Coolus types, with some iron Gallic styles (the Agen-Port styles) being adopted from Caesar's day onwards.

Imperial legionaries might wear iron or bronze. Auxiliaries are a lot less certain, but also probably both, with maybe bronze being more common then in the legions.

[Martin Smith]

Thanks Duncan - appreciated. I'll pass that on.