Cassidion

The cassidion or casidion is a type of helmet that emerged from late Roman influences and was in use in the Byzantine Empire throughout the Middle Ages .

description

The cassidion was semicircular and was fixed to the head with a leather chin strap. It was worn over a padded protective cap and was often supplemented by ear and neck protection made of chain mesh , metal scales or fabric. Later Kassidioi could have a pointed conical shape, which probably reflected the contact of the Byzantines with the Persian culture. Also Avar , Frankish and Islamic influences were noticeable throughout the centuries. Since the 7th century , a tuft called a tuphion has been attached to the tip of the helmet of some Kassidioi , which may be due to Slavic models. In the 10th century and were probably in the Byzantine Empire mask helmets used. A masked cassidion is called an autoprosopon .

literature

• Harry Kühnel (Ed.): Picture dictionary of clothing and armor. From the ancient Orient to the end of the Middle Ages (= Kröner's pocket edition. Vol. 453). Kröner, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-520-45301-0 .
• Ioannis Spatharakis: The illustrations of the Cynegetica in Venice. Codex marcianus graecus Z 139. Alexandros Press, Leiden 2004, ISBN 90-806476-4-0 .