Museum complex

Helmet

The beginning of the XX century
Galvanoscopy, copper-alloy
Total height-29 cm, dome height-19 cm, dome diameter-21 cm
From: bought in 1909
Showcase 3

A helmet is a type of a protective equipment made for a head. With additional appliances (a camail, earpieces, a neck flap, a nasel, a half-mask, a mask) the helmet could protect a neck, shoulders, and also a half our a full face.
The electrotype copy of the unique artifact found in the village Lykovo, reproduces exactly its shape, structural and dimensional characteristics, with details of decor, gilding and preservation. The copy was created in the early XX century specifically for the exposition of the Historical Museum.
The crown of the helmet of dome-shaped form in the front part is equipped with a riveted nasel with superciliary fillets.
A plate with a stamped image of the Archangel Michael in a canonical pose with a rod in his right hand and a scepter in his left is riveted on the forehead of the crown. On the edge of the plate the inscription is engraved: "The great archangel Michael, help your slave Fedor". In the upper part of the helmet around the base of the top there are four petal-shaped overlays with half-length images of saints forming the Deesis tier. Above the forehead’s plate with Michael is an overlay with the figure of the Almighty with the titles by sides, with the gospel in his left hand and the blessing right hand. On the left is placed a plate with a figure of St. Fedor with a sword, on the right – St. George with a spear. Saints are holding shields; inscriptions denoting names are placed on each side. On the back of the plate is the image of St. Basil with the corresponding inscription. The upper part of the petal-like overlays is closed with a conical top, riveted on four "legs".
The lower edge of the crown of the helmet is decorated with an ornamental crown - embossed strip, entirely covered with heart-shaped stamps with the figures of birds, leopards and griffins enclosed in them. In the upper part of the crown in the triangular gaps between the heart-shaped stamps are placed alternating images of flowers and leaves.
Outstanding Russian archaeologist V. L. Yanin on the basis of images and inscriptions placed on the helmet assumed that the original helmet was made between 1149 and 1162 years for the son of Yuri Dolgoruky Novgorod Prince Mstislav Yurievich. The last owner of the helmet was Vladimir’s Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, father of Alexander Nevsky, whose baptismal name was Fedor (as well as of Mstislav Yurievich). Yaroslav Vsevolodovich lost (hid?) battle headband during the escape after the Lipetsk battle, which occurred in 1216 between Russian princes for the legacy of Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest.

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