Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

tom hyle · 14th May 2005, 02:31 PM

I spaced this earlier, I guess, but the oft-cited reason for the Roman cavalry face is that it was shaped like the face of the wearer, to sit on his face at every point (atop a thin padding), and thus greatly increases visibility over more protrusive protections. I've worn helmets, and assure you this is very relevant. Similarly so with Renaissance Europan "close helms". Similarly, ear holes in helmets are indeed for hearing thru. They work better if close to the ear, and a person can be deafened thru them, but penetration, or by a flat whack that forces compressed air into the ear. The helmets we've been discussing don't seem to fit so closely to the face though, so maybe not real relevant.....
dang it something is under my S key........!

14th May 2005, 02:31 PM	#10
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I spaced this earlier, I guess, but the oft-cited reason for the Roman cavalry face is that it was shaped like the face of the wearer, to sit on his face at every point (atop a thin padding), and thus greatly increases visibility over more protrusive protections. I've worn helmets, and assure you this is very relevant. Similarly so with Renaissance Europan "close helms". Similarly, ear holes in helmets are indeed for hearing thru. They work better if close to the ear, and a person can be deafened thru them, but penetration, or by a flat whack that forces compressed air into the ear. The helmets we've been discussing don't seem to fit so closely to the face though, so maybe not real relevant..... dang it something is under my S key........!