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Henrik Granlid:
It could've come out of the flat topped helmets wanting to move thw point of impact away from the head as well as the face, similar to burgonets having combs and brims.
A flat top sits taller than conical helmets, much like a bascinet sits a fair height above the skull, however, they also sit a bit out, offering protection from downward blows by moving the point of impact further out from the head.
If this then gradually shrunk to accomodate for a more slanted glancing surface underneath, it follows that they didn't redesign the top until it got small enough to where they turned into sugarloafes and Pembridge tops.
Sir Patrick:
Why did they go away from face protection in the first place? It's seems like Viking and other Iron Age helmets had spectacle plates and cheek flaps, yet they were discarded in favor of the conical nasal helms.
Henrik Granlid:
Fashion to an extent, but nasals are suprisingly efficient at protecting the face, especially with maille for your jawline, most incoming blows at most angles will meet either the nasal, or maille with sturdy bones underneath.
We also have to question how common or rare oculars really were, don't we have at least as many found nasals during the viking age as we have oculars? And there is only one Scandinavian helmet found from the era and it is without cheekplates (which were more likely a remnant of the roman helmet construction, kept during the vendel period but not seen in the actual viking helmet).
Sir Nate:
--- Quote from: Henrik Granlid on 2015-09-28, 20:37:17 ---Fashion to an extent, but nasals are suprisingly efficient at protecting the face, especially with maille for your jawline, most incoming blows at most angles will meet either the nasal, or maille with sturdy bones underneath.
--- End quote ---
I think thats one of the reasons the Ventail was created. Although in later use I think it transfers from defending the mouth, to acting as an extra dagger defense for the chin and throat when helms with face plates came into use.
--- Quote from: Henrik Granlid on 2015-09-28, 19:39:20 ---It could've come out of the flat topped helmets wanting to move thw point of impact away from the head as well as the face, similar to burgonets having combs and brims.
A flat top sits taller than conical helmets, much like a bascinet sits a fair height above the skull, however, they also sit a bit out, offering protection from downward blows by moving the point of impact further out from the head.
If this then gradually shrunk to accomodate for a more slanted glancing surface underneath, it follows that they didn't redesign the top until it got small enough to where they turned into sugarloafes and Pembridge tops.
--- End quote ---
Not only is the point of impact farther from the head, but I find the brim of the helmet is very strong.
I think it would also be quite difficult to land a flat blow on the top of the helm with single-handed shaft weapons (maces and smaller axes) and swords. Most blows will be at an angle, and having that brim defense would seem pretty sound, and probably still glance off the attack. With a rounded top, that brim is taken away, a blow just glances off. So in the end, the rounded top is still superior...
Lord Dane:
Great videos Ian!! :) Finally caught up.
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