One of the most spectacular historical artifacts to appear on the Eastern European art market in recent years, the 23K gold “Heroes’ Helmet” is featured in Artmark’s current History Auction.
Also called “the Hungarian helmet, the hero helmeti” is a unique piece that comes from the area of the Black Sea basin.
“It is an exceptional ceremonial piece, considered one-of-a-kind. The helmet impresses not only by the extreme rarity of such an object, but also by its complex cultural biography, possibly spanning more than two millennia, and has a starting price of €25,000”, says Artmark’s Facebook page.
Also called “Hungarian helmet, “hero helmeti” is a unique piece that comes from the area of the Black Sea basin
“It is an exceptional ceremonial piece, considered unique. The helmet impresses not only by the extreme rarity of such an object, but also by its complex cultural biography, possibly spanning more than two millennia, and has a starting price of 25,000 euroso”, says the Artmark Facebook page.
The artifact was discovered in the 1970s in Iran and originally belonged to a Central Asian royal family. Later, it was purchased by Dr. István Zelnik, one of the most important European collectors of Eastern European and Asian antiquities, representative of a family with a tradition in the field.
“The decor may remind of Hercules’ fight with the lion in Nemea”
The helmet is composed of three main structural elements, made of gold.
The skull is conical in shape and consists of six segments arranged radially and symmetrically around a central point, which is marked at the top by a small umbo. The entire surface of the six panels is richly ornamented.
“The iconographic analysis indicates a circumpontic origin of the piece. The anthropomorphic decoration of the cap is similar to representations from the Scythian environment (southern Ukraine and Crimea), namely, on each segment a male figure is represented, with or without a beard, in a facing position, probably representing a deity or a warrior. The decoration on the cheek, made with gender scenes (hero in hand-to-hand combat with a wild animal – probably bear/wolf or lion – in rampant position, which may recall the fight of Hercules with the lion in Nemea), would seem to indicate a West-Pontic origin, however, an oriental origin cannot be excluded (the same composition, but with a feline as the hero’s antagonist, is found in Syria, Iraq and Asia Minor);)”, says the Artmark website.
The pieces of the dorsal guard have a similar origin, being decorated with male human faces, also with facial hair.
