THE POWER OF 3 – Eastern Celtic Helmets

Celtic helmets from the late La Têne period form 3 main groups – single unit helmets
found mostly in France and Switzerland; 2-part helmets, composed of a calotte and/or
type Port neck guard, which are found both east and west of the Alps; Eastern Celtic 3-
part helmets of the Novo Mesto type composed of a calotte, a forehead guard and a neck
guard (Schaaff 1986: 830-833; 1988:302).

A wonderful example of the Eastern Celtic helmet is that discovered in the river Sava
near Stara Gradiška in Croatia. Exceptionally well preserved, it consists of an iron
calotte to which protective bronze forehead and neck guards are attached. A moulded
bronze reinforcement runs along the middle of the calotte, ending in representations of
human heads and triskele symbols. Bronze cheek pieces decorated with schematic
representations of a large bird hang from the sides of the forehead guard.
 FROM THE ADRIATIC TO THE CASPIAN

Most examples of these Eastern Celtic helmets have been discovered on the Balkans –
on the territory of today’s Croatia and Slovenia, where such have been recorded at
Seveste in central Croatia, and in Slovenia at Stremec near Bela Cerkev, in the
Ljubljanica river, at the Celtic cemetery at Na Hribcu (Mihovo) where 2 such helmets
were discovered, Idrija near Nova Bača, Vinji Vrh (Šmarjeta), and in burial # 169 at
Beletov Urt -Novo Mesto (Mihaljević, Dizdar 2007).
 The Bronze Helmet from Vinji Vrh (Šmarjeta, Slovenia) /LTD, 1st c. BC

Besides Slovenia and Croatia, Novo Mesto type helmets have also been found at sites
stretching from Poland to the Caspian Sea. A tripartite iron helmet was found in
cremation grave # 25 in Siemiechów (central Poland), used as an urn for the cremated
bones of the deceased. Originally identified as ‘Roman’, subsequent research has shown
that the Siemiechów helmet is a variant of the tripartite east-Celtic helmet (Schaaff
1986:833). Another variant of the Novo Mesto type of Celtic helmet was found in
tumulus # 2 at Cugir Romania, together with a late La Têne sword in its scabbard, and a
shield umbo (Mihaljević, Dizdar op cit.), while in Bulgaria a rounded cheek guard
discovered at the Celtic hillfort at Arkovna, Varna region (Lazarov 2010) probably also
comes from such a helmet. On the banks of the river Seim in the middle Dneiper Basin
in western Ukraine further examples have recently been discovered at the Mutyn burial
complex. At the Mutyn site, which dates to the late 1st c. BC, Celtic burials containing 13
late La Têne swords, scabbards, spearheads, shield bosses and chainmail have been
excavated. 5 late La Têne helmets were also discovered, of which at least 2 are of the
Novo Mesto type (Kazakevich 2012).

The easternmost finds of these Celtic helmets come from southern Russia, and include
an example from Boiko-Ponura (Krasnodar), and another from Yashkul (Kalmykia)
which most resembles the Novo Mesto type helmets from Slovenia and Croatia
(Kazakevich 2010, Mihaljević, Dizdar op cit.). Both eastern Celtic helmets from Southern
Russia should logically be associated with the Celto-Scythian Bastarnae tribes (see
https://www.academia.edu/4835555/Gallo-Scythians).

THE POWER OF 3

A most fascinating aspect of these helmets is the religious symbolism to be observed in

their decorative elements. The severed heads (têtes coupées) on examples such as those
from the Sava river in Slovenia or Boiko-Ponura in Southern Russia is itself a core
Celtic religious symbol. Worth noting is the uncanny similarity between the heads
depicted on the Sava helmet and other Celtic works of art such as the silver disc from
Manerbio sul Mella (Italy), or six bronze appliqués found in a rich Celtic (Scordisci)
warrior burial at Koilovtsi (Pleven reg.) in northern Bulgaria, also dated to the late 2 nd/
1st c. BC (loc cit). The same representation of the head is to be observed on a series of
silver coins issued by the Taurisci tribe:

Human heads from the front and rear of the Sava helmet
 Obverse of Taurisci silver coin (Steiermark, Austria)

Severed heads on a Celtic silver disc from Manerbio sul Mella (N. Italy)
In the case of Manerbio sul Mella another composition depicts the Triskele, interpreted
as a solar symbol, surrounded by severed heads:

On the Sava helmet from Croatia the severed head forms part of a triangular
composition of which triskele symbols constitute the other 2 points:
This theme is continued in the depiction of the long-necked bird on the cheek pieces of
the helmets from Vinji Vrh and the Sava river (below), the basic geometric composition
of which also constitute a triskele:

One of the core symbols in Eastern Celtic art during this period – either as a
symbol/icon in itself, or as the geometric basis of artistic compositions, its presence on
eastern Celtic helmets is no coincidence. The triskele also appears frequently on other
items of Celtic military equipment from this region, such as the appliqués from Celtic
chainmail found at Ciumeşti and Târgu Mureş in Romania, or Panagurischte Kolonii
and Matochina in Bulgaria (see https://www.academia.edu/3891226/Celtic_Chainmail).
Triskele discs from Celtic chainmail found at Ciumeşti (A) and Târgu Mureş (B)

(Different scales)

The fact that the triskele is included in the decorative elements on Celtic weaponry,
particularly protective military equipment such as helmets and chainmail, logically
indicates that for the Celts the triskele symbol held special protective properties. The
triskele has been interpreted as a solar symbol, which logically connects it to the pan-
Celtic solar deity Lugus/Lugh, and it would appear that that by incorporating such
symbols in their military equipment Celtic warriors were invoking the protection of the
Sun God.

On helmets of the Montefortino type see:

https://www.academia.edu/4835555/Gallo-Scythians
 Literature Cited

Kazakevich G. (2012) Celtic Military Equipment from the Territory of Ukraine: Towards a
new Warrior Identity in the pre-Roman Eastern Europe. In: Transforming Traditions: Studies
in Archaeology, Comparative Linguistics and Narrative. Studia Celto-Slavica 6. p. 177- 212.
Lódź

Lazarov L. (2010) The Celtic State In the Time of Cavaros. In: In Search of Celtic Tylis in
Thrace (III c BC). Sofia 2010. P. 97-113

Mihaljević M., Dizdar M. (2007) Late La Têne Bronze Helmet from the River Sava near Stara
Gradiška. VAMZ, 3s., XL 117-246

Schaaff U. (1986) Studien zur keltischen Bewaffnung. JbRGZM,33/1986, 2:830–833

Schaaff U. (1988) Keltische Helme. U:AntikeHelme. MonographienRGZM,

14.Mainz,1988:293–317

Mac Congail