Helms & Mantles

[Thorsteinn]

For those who use greathelms and cloth sun covers. Does it really help keep the heat down & do you think the same idea could be adapted to conical helms?

[Sir Edward]

Yes, the fabric actually does a pretty good job of keeping the helm from baking in the sun. It's quite practical. As for a conical, well, probably but I'm not sure there's historical precedent.

[Thorsteinn]

How did mantles come about? What was the historic solution to keeping a conical helm cool in the desert sun?

[Sir Wolf]

ya it does work. jsut dont leave your helmet upside down in teh hot sun and then put it on

[Ian]

ya it does work. jsut dont leave your helmet upside down in teh hot sun and then put it on

Sounds like this was learned from firsthand experience?

[Sir Wolf]

Sir James burned the top layer of skin off my nose at the photo day lol. ehhehe not really but it was SUPER hot ehhehe

[Sir William]

How did mantles come about? What was the historic solution to keeping a conical helm cool in the desert sun?

A turban, or other cloth wrapped around the helm.  You did say 'in the desert'.

[Sir James A]

ya it does work. jsut dont leave your helmet upside down in teh hot sun and then put it on

Sounds like this was learned from firsthand experience?

I'm a terrible squire, I think that's why I was knighted early.

[B. Patricius]

I'm a terrible squire, I think that's why I was knighted early.

put that on my checklist!  - "If I'm bad enough as a squire, they'll be sure to knight me early just to get rid of me!" 

all joking aside, I do feel that sometimes the US Military does that with its enlisted... how some men ever made first class is beyond me...

[Joshua Santana]

I say yes that Great Helm mantles do keep the helm cool and from heads baking to red, leavened bread. 

On the other hand in regards to historical accuracy, period artwork is the best place to find mantled great helm. Specifically 14th and 13th Centuries.  They appear only in tournament or tourney artwork.

[Thorsteinn]

I'm not using a greathelm, nor am I looking at the 13th cen (it's a bit late). I was thinking more 9th cen. I'm just tired of baking my head in the NV & CA sun.

[B. Patricius]

Thorsteinn,

one of my professors told me "if you think about it, and it seems practical, the chances that they may have come up with something like it back then is almost proven."

I seriously doubt mantles and such were "invented" in the 12/13th centuries.  I just think they blossomed and became in vogue in the 13th and 14th centuries.  Also, during the 9th century, the planet was in a state of a mini-ice age, sorry, my geography/geology sucks but that's the term I know it as.  So the layers make more sense.  Beyond that, even in the blistering cold, a cold helmet is definitely not a good thing.  So again, I think it's safe to suppose they wore some kind of helmet protection, those that actually could afford a helmet in the 9th century 

btw, I also wanted to congratulate you on your kit.  For fighting in the SCA during the pre 11th century, "you sure done good kid, ya sure done good." - quoting the Duke.